Medical Marijuana in Illinois? Compassionate bill needs Illinoisans' support

     On March 4, 2009, the Illinois House passed a plan---bill HB2514,  which would allow people who suffer from debilitating illnesses (e.g., Cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS, and more) and chronic pain conditions upon a doctor's permission---acquire a state registry card that would allow the person to possess up to two ounces of "usable cannabis" and also allow up to seven marijuana plants growing within their own homes.

     Though the bill has passed the House Committee by a 4-3 vote, the bill still needs grass roots support from the people of Illinois in order to make it a reality.  There are still a lot of people who, for one reason or another, don't agree with this kind of "compassion".  Many people begin the anti-medical marijuana rhetoric  through throw-backs to the Nancy Reagan "Just Say No" days:

     "Marijuana is a GATEWAY DRUG..." 

     As far as marijuana being a "GATEWAY" drug, there are other "drugs"---such as tobacco (cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco) and alcohol being two of the most common and most legal---that teenagers/young adults acquire that are much more of a "gateway" than marijuana.  Also, though people may begin illicit drug use with marijuana, this does not mean that because they smoke pot that they'll graduate to harder substances; Nancy Reagan's rhetoric of the 80's has been so ingrained into the public's misperceptions, that it is hard to seperate facts and fallacies.

    "This is just a nice way to LEGALIZE Marijuana..."

    NO, this isn't legalizing marijuana for every day use for the every day citizen.  This bill introduced and passed is for COMPASSIONATE medical care.  The only way one would receive the state registry card is upon having a doctor's written consent/permission; in other words, a person obtaining such permission/consent from a doctor would need valid medical proof (e.g., Cancer, MS, etc.)before being able to obtain the state registry card.

     There are now 13 states in the U.S that have passed medical marijuana laws, and, more states are beginning to follow their lead at this writing.  As a citizen of Illinois, I believe it is time for our senators and congress people to finally show their compassion where necessary for the medical wellness of their constituents.   Although I have a somewhat personal stake in this bill being passed---I suffer from a debilitating, chronically painful condition known as trigeminal neuralgia---I also know quite a few people other than myself who are in need of this medical reform.

     This is my grass-roots call to all Illinoisans' who suffer from debilitating illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, spasticity, neurological disorders/disease and the likes---to write to our congress people, our senators, and our governor in support of HB2514.  It is also my grass-roots attempt to ask people to become educated and informed in regards to medical marijuana compared to more widely prescribed medications such as methadone, oxycodone, neurontin, and vicodin just to name a few.  FACT: There has never been an overdose death associated with marijuana; the same cannot be stated for methadone, oxycodone, neurontin, or vicodin.

    Become informed and educated---and join me in writing the following people:

    Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hindsdale,IL)

    Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie)

    John Cullerton---IL Senate President

    Pat Quinn, IL Governor

     For education and more information on this subject, please visit the Marijuana Policy Project website: www.mpp.org.