Pubdate: Sun, 08 Mar 2009
Source: Indiana Daily Student (IN Edu)
Copyright: 2009 Indiana Daily Student
Contact:  http://www.idsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1319
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

The Illinois House committee gave the go-ahead for a plan that would
legalize medical marijuana in the state.

As you could assume, some people aren't too happy about this decision.
However, we think Illinois is thinking along the right lines.

Relieving the pain of cancer, AIDS and other diseases motivated
lawmakers. By legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, people
suffering ailments of all sorts will be able to use this drug for relief.

We think citizens who have a doctor's permission to use medical
marijuana should be able to do so. People unnecessarily endure pain
and suffering from diseases every day, and medical marijuana could
help. For example, marijuana has been shown to help chemotherapy
patients quell their nausea. It helps curb pains without some of the
side effects heavier drugs tend to have.

If this plan is passed, patients who are registered to use medical
marijuana would be allowed up to seven plants in their homes along
with two ounces of medically usable marijuana.

This isn't the first time the question of medical marijuana's
legalization has come to Illinois.

In 1978, the state actually authorized the use of medical marijuana.
The only problem was they left it up to the Public Health Department
to implement the policy.

And since there is clearly no medical marijuana in Illinois yet, we
can see how well they did.

Just because the House committee said "OK" doesn't mean the plan is
clear yet. It has yet to see a vote on the House floor.

Patricia Bellock is a Republican representative from Hinsdale, Ill.,
who isn't sold on the idea at this point. According to the Chicago
Tribune, she doesn't disagree with using marijuana for medical
purposes, but she does believe the plan is too lenient and that people
will take advantage of the system.

So while some in Illinois aren't convinced that the benefits of
legalizing medical marijuana use will outweigh its costs, we think the
legislation is a model for progressive thinking.

We hope to see marijuana's medical legalization in the near future.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin