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Posted yesterday in huffingtonpost.com:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - People suffering from cancer, AIDS and other diseases could turn to marijuana for pain relief under a plan approved Wednesday by an Illinois House committee despite claims that it would be a step toward legalizing pot.
Under the legislation, people with a doctor's permission would be eligible for a state registry card allowing up to seven marijuana plants in their homes and 2 ounces of "usable cannabis." The measure is written to expire after three years.
Advocates say marijuana eases pain without the side effects of heavier drugs and reduces nausea from chemotherapy.
"There is needless suffering going on out there," said the sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. "Everything else is a sideshow."
But Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Hinsdale, said the bill raises serious questions. Will it be misused by people who don't really have a medical need for marijuana? Would it open the door to outright legalization of pot use in Illinois?
"It is the No. 1 drug that introduces young people to other drugs," said Bellock, who voted against the measure in the Human Services Committee.
Still, it passed 4-3 and now goes to the House floor.
Thirteen states already have medical marijuana laws that preclude a criminal conviction for use, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.
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MY OPINION:
I'm pretty surprised Illinois is getting on the legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes band wagon. I believe legalizing it for people with an illness that can benefit from the drug just makes sense. Like other prescription drugs, marijuana has been proven to be a beneficial drug for certain illnesses.
Lets face it, people are using marijuana anyway and is it really a hard core drug that should be punished for its use? I have always believed alcohol is more of a "gateway" drug than marijuana. The people I know who drink heavily like the speedy effect of booze and want to increase that feeling by doing coke or pills.
I think the historic social/political reasons why marijuana is illegal are completely ridiculous and I am glad the state of Illinois is getting their act together and realizing the benefits for legalizing this drug and I am hoping every state follows suit. Decriminalizing the drug nation wide will be next, it's just a matter of time. Hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later.
1 comment:
I see no difference between marijuana and alcohol. They are both good & bad in the same proportion, although you are more likely to make way less damaging decisions while high than you might while drunk.
It's funny how we encourage drunken debauchery through every outlet of our culture and prescribe OxyContin to people no problem... but pot? OMFG!
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