MedicalNeed
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Non-profit medical marijuana dispensories could soon be distributing 2.5-ounce doses of the drug to chronic pain sufferers in Illinois, if state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, is successful in his latest push to get the long-awaited, hotly-debated measure through the state legislature.
Lang said Monday that he plans to place tighter restrictions on the amount of medical marijuana distributed to patients and take out the grow-your-own provisions that opponents railed against during the last General Assembly. If he is successful, the bill could be out of committee and on the state House floor late this week.
"A database would be created for people who buy the medical marijuana to make sure they do not buy more than 2.5 ounces every 14 days," Lang said. "So this is going to be a more controlled piece of legislation."
But Anita Bedell, who heads Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, said that even with the new provisions anti-drug activists still had reason to be alarmed.
"The 2.5 ounces is 183 joints every two weeks, or 13 per day," Bedell said.
Lang's previous attempt at legalizing medical marijuana failed by a narrow margin. He believes that placing the responsibility for distribution in the hands of non-profit business owners and forcing employees to undergo background checks will help garner support this time.
"We're not going to allow this to become a cottage industry in Illinois, where entrepreneurs are making millions of dollars off of marijuana sales and taking advantage of sick people," Lang said.
The proposal will be debated Wednesday in a human services committee.
The bill is HB30.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: stltoday.com
Author: HANNAH HESS
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Contact Information
Copyright: 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Website: Ill. lawmaker determined to breathe new life into medical marijuana debate
Lang said Monday that he plans to place tighter restrictions on the amount of medical marijuana distributed to patients and take out the grow-your-own provisions that opponents railed against during the last General Assembly. If he is successful, the bill could be out of committee and on the state House floor late this week.
"A database would be created for people who buy the medical marijuana to make sure they do not buy more than 2.5 ounces every 14 days," Lang said. "So this is going to be a more controlled piece of legislation."
But Anita Bedell, who heads Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, said that even with the new provisions anti-drug activists still had reason to be alarmed.
"The 2.5 ounces is 183 joints every two weeks, or 13 per day," Bedell said.
Lang's previous attempt at legalizing medical marijuana failed by a narrow margin. He believes that placing the responsibility for distribution in the hands of non-profit business owners and forcing employees to undergo background checks will help garner support this time.
"We're not going to allow this to become a cottage industry in Illinois, where entrepreneurs are making millions of dollars off of marijuana sales and taking advantage of sick people," Lang said.
The proposal will be debated Wednesday in a human services committee.
The bill is HB30.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: stltoday.com
Author: HANNAH HESS
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Contact Information
Copyright: 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Website: Ill. lawmaker determined to breathe new life into medical marijuana debate
