Illinois House Could Legalize Medical Marijuana

[Payaso]

Reports from Illinois indicate that there is a possibility that the state could allow medical marijuana. Only one vote more is required to get this bill through the state legislature.

Illinois is one House vote away from becoming the 15th state to legalize medical marijuana.


But Rep. Lou Lang, the sponsor of the measure that would enact legalization, is playing it safe. With a subject as sensitive as medical marijuana, he realizes that timing is everything.


"Many members will vote for this," Lang told the Chicago Reader, "but they'll only do it once. They'll go out on a limb once."


A new report from WBBM shows how tantalizingly close the state truly is to passing the bill. It squeaked out of the Illinois Senate almost a year ago; now, Lang says, more than 90 of the 118 members of the House of Representatives have told him they support the bill. And "he has been promised a vote by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) if he can muster the needed votes," the report reads.


The trouble for Lang is that private statements of support may not translate into votes. Nearly 40 of the representatives who support the bill in private say they fear the political fallout of casting an "aye" vote for it in the harsh light of day.


And the clock is ticking on passage of the bill. On January 12, 2011, a new General Assembly will be sworn in. If by that time the bill hasn't passed the House, the Senate's vote won't matter any more; it will be back to square one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/12/illinois-house-could-lega_n_534107.html

 

[Justa6655321]

y o fuckin y cant they get their act together and pass this fucking bill - WTF

 

[guest456mpy]

Justa6655321, are you from Illinois?
I'm hoping they get their act together on this myself.

 

[Euphrates]

Good news for the mid-west and the rest of the U.S

Feels good.

I heard Iowa is up for MMJ aswell and is looking somewhat promising. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy unanimously recommended that the Legislature legalize marijuana for medical uses.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy says if the committee comes up with a workable plan, lawmakers could discuss the issue during the 2011 session.

 

[CANNATOPIA]

Good Luck Illinois!

 

[igrowone]

the momentum building across the country is just plain BIG
things are changing fast, Illinois is close, NY is close to doing something
let it roll baby

 

[Haps]

I can not imagine this getting done, our legislative process is screwed here. But if the stars line up............shit happens.

 

[Speedcat]

YOu know why this is happening....ITs because Places are going bank rupt, loosing money, not enough taxes. My county is pulling their reserve fund because of a lack of tax money available. They gotta do something or else america will break down. Funny how cannabis could save the US. Pharm companies cant pay off EVERY one and that is why states will pass medical marijuana, they are not going to just let BUILLIONS go untaxed much longer, they know what They could do with that money......keep their fucking jobs.

 

[Speedcat]

I better see florida up on this shit next. Im sick of this Fuckin state and its bullshit. I NEVER hear news about florida considering passing a bill.

 

[RugerBaby]

How long has this been in the works? I know I've been hearing about this for a while now. Lets get this thing moving!!

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

Man it is starting to feel like the overgrow is ON

 

[stihgnobevoli]

im hoping this passes, legalize it, dont criticize it.

 

[JackTheGrower]

Man it is starting to feel like the overgrow is ON

Well I would not feel so all alone.. Everybody must get stoned!

It's a song...


The more we realize the biggest tool prohibitionists have is the fear tool. That we scare each other and ourselves without even a little effort from prohibitionists is the way the war continues to work.

We have to make the prohibitionists do all the work they have done all over again. I feel we will find they just don't have the ability to address prohibition again.

So let's make them do it all over or get the hell out of the way.

 

[bass ackwards]

This is not such a good bill as many believe. If you are not a medical patient and get busted for any of the six different classes of misdemeanors or felonies ,under this bill the state will add an additional year of prison time to each of them. So ,for example,instead of a minimum six years for a class X you are looking at a minimum seven years. And as I stated for each of the class of felonies and misdemeanor charges below class X an additional year is added. Looking at the law under this light ,it is definitely not good.

 

[nattynattygurrl]

They gotta do something or else america will break down. Funny how cannabis could save the US.

I concur.
I hope Illinois and Iowa will join us soon! Good luck guys!


I was still posting as the above post was posted...yikes!

 

[Justa6655321]

Yep, I'm from Illinois

This just might pass later this year.

 

[green356man]

Hell yea Illinois!!!!! Do it already. I have the $5000 set aside for my caregiver license.

 

[ThaMagnificent]

Fucking Illinois politics. Do something smart for once and legalize it! It will save our huge deficit!

 

[EdIsOnnOsIdE]

I better see florida up on this shit next. Im sick of this Fuckin state and its bullshit. I NEVER hear news about florida considering passing a bill.

I heard Florida is the retirement capital of the US. Start speaking at some old folks homes and get that Florida MMJ!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wanderer]

The final vote was yesterday with the bill failing 65-56.

Sad day once again in Illinois...

Illinois fails to pass MMJ law in final vote