Pubdate: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 Source: State Journal-Register (IL) Copyright: 2010 The State Journal-Register Contact: http://service.sj-r.com/forms/letters.asp Website: http://www.sj-r.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425 Author: John O'connor, The State Journal-Register Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.) MED MARIJUANA BILL GETS SUPPORT FROM SOME IN GOP In the race for governor, Republicans and Democrats alike are divided over whether Illinois should legalize marijuana use for medical purposes. Candidates from both parties say they would consider allowing medical marijuana, an idea that has been approved by the state Senate. But others responding to an Associated Press questionnaire maintain it would start the state on a slide toward pot legalization. Smoking or eating the illegal drug can ease pain and nausea in people suffering from a variety of ills without the sometimes harsh side effects of existing medicine. Jim Ryan, the former state attorney general and a cancer survivor, said he could support a "narrowly drawn" bill legalizing medical marijuana. "It can provide needed relief for patients with various afflictions," said Ryan, a Republican. Rival Republican Bill Brady took the opposite view. "Legalizing medical marijuana appears to me to be nothing more than moving us down the slope of legalizing marijuana," said Brady, a state senator from Bloomington. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said he would consider signing a medical marijuana bill. "In general, I believe that people who are seriously ill deserve access to all medical treatments that will help them," he said. His primary opponent, Comptroller Dan Hynes, said he opposes outright legalization but did not address medical use of the drug. A spokesman later clarified that Hynes opposes legalizing it for medical purposes. At least a dozen states allow medical marijuana. Strangely, Illinois is one of them - in theory. It was legalized here in 1978, but the Public Health Department never implemented the rules necessary to permit actual use of medical marijuana. Some Illinois legislators want a new law on the subject. The state Senate narrowly approved legislation earlier this year to set up a public-health registry of people using doctor-approved marijuana to relieve the pain of, for example, Crohn's disease, or the upset stomach caused by chemotherapy. Patients could possess seven plants or two ounces of the dried drug. The House didn't vote on the bill, which would have required a doctor's supervision. Among Republicans, the candidates open to some form of legalized medical marijuana are: businessman Adam Andrzejewski, public relations consultant Dan Proft and Ryan. The opponents are: Brady, Sen. Kirk Dillard, businessman Andy McKenna and Bob Schillerstrom, chairman of the DuPage County Board. They offered several reasons for their opposition, from concerns about state government getting involved in determining effective medical treatment to the difficulties of enforcing such a law. Green Party candidate Rich Whitney, a Carbondale lawyer, backs full legalization of marijuana, not just for medical uses. The bill is SB1381. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake