Some good news today from Illinois:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
After months of keeping his decision-making close to the vest, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is set to sign legislation Thursday that will make the state the 20th in the nation to legalize marijuana for medical use.
The Chicago Democrat will center his remarks on military veterans – something that's been a focus in his governorship – and the chronically ill. He'll also tout how the standards in the bill are some of the nation's toughest, according to a copy of his plans obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
Quinn had been mum for months about what he was going to do with the legislation, saying only that he had heard compelling testimony from sick patients and was staying "open-minded." That was even as Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon came forward in support. - Huffington Post, 7/31/13
You can read the bill here:
http://www.ilga.gov/
Here's a little background info:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/...
Under the new law, which would take effect Jan. 1, a person could be prescribed no more than 2.5 ounces of marijuana over two weeks. In addition, the prescribing doctor must have a prior and ongoing medical relationship with the patient. And a doctor must find that the patient has one of a few dozen serious or chronic conditions for the marijuana to be prescribed.
Patients would have to buy the marijuana from one of 60 dispensing centers throughout the state and would not be allowed to legally grow their own. Workers at dispensing centers would undergo criminal background checks, the stores would be under round-the-clock camera surveillance and users would carry cards that indicate how much they had bought to prevent stockpiling.
Marijuana would be grown inside 22 cultivation centers registered with the state. - Chicago Tribune, 7/31/13
More below the fold.
The person to thank heavily for this as well is State Rep. Lou Lang (D. Skokie) who sponsored the bill was able to build the support to get the bill passed:
"Our goal from the beginning was to provide a better quality of life for some very sick people in Illinois," Lang said. "When the governor signs the bill, it'll be a signal to many people that the state of Illinois still has a good deal of compassion, a good deal of concern for those of us, under a doctor's care, who wish to try a new type of therapy … to simply feel better." - Chicago Tribune, 7/31/13
The bill signing will take place at a ceremony at the University of Chicago with a very honored guest:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Among those attending will be Army veteran Jim Champion, who suffers from a progressive form of multiple sclerosis and says that cannabis has helped him reduce the number pills he takes. At one time he was taking nearly 60 a day.
“I feel finally vindicated in a way,” said Champion, who has met Quinn before. “All this time I’ve been telling people it helps me, but I’ve been living with the stigma of being a disabled veteran and also a criminal.” - Washington Post, 7/31/13
House Bill 1 goes into effect on January 1st. The bill would've become law even without Quinn's signature:
http://www.thedailychronic.net/...
If Governor Quinn signs House Bill 1, Illinois becomes the 20th state to allow medical marijuana. If Governor Quinn vetoes the bill, the decade-long push for medical marijuana in Illinois will continue.
But if Governor Quinn fails to take action on the bill by Sunday, Illinois will find itself as the 20th medical marijuana state come Monday morning.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has had nearly 60 days to sign or veto House Bill 1. Next Monday, the bill is set to automatically become law.
Under Illinois law, if the Governor fails to sign or veto a bill within 60 days of receiving it from the legislature, the bill automatically becomes law.
House Bill 1 was sent to the Governor’s desk on June 5, and the clock is ticking, with the 60 days set to expire Sunday, August 4.
Governor Quinn’s lack of action on the bill could signify support of the bill, while taking the politically safe stance of having no opinion. - Daily Chronic, 7/31/13
It's commendable of Quinn to publicly come out for it. He could've played it safe like most politicians do but he didn't. Having politicians publicly state their support for drug reform laws is beneficial to the cause. Thank you Pat Quinn.