Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jan 2014
Source: Courier News (Elgin, IL)
Copyright: 2014 The Courier News
Contact:  http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1200
Linda McDaniel Hale

ELGIN TAKES MEASURED STEPS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES

The City of Elgin deserves a round of applause for taking a pro-active
approach to setting up zoning regulations for medical marijuana
distribution. Even though the state of Illinois is still setting up
the rules, Elgin is not waiting around for problems to occur because
they were not ready to provide safe and legal access to those legally
allowed to use medical marijuana.

The State of Illinois was the 19th to pass a medical marijuana bill.
It created a four-year pilot program for patients who are suffering
from painful and terminal diseases to use marijuana.

The new law limits the sale of medical marijuana to 2.5 ounces per
patient per purchase every 14 days. That is approximately 183 joints,
or 13 per day.

Patients interested in the use of medical marijuana would need to pay
a $150 fee for a medical marijuana registry identification card.
Patients would also need to pay for their own fingerprinting, so that
they could receive an Illinois State Police background check.

Any person convicted of felony drug charges will not be qualified for
the program.

However, exceptions will be granted if the patient does have a
debilitating medical condition.

Those patients 18 years and older will need to have a regular
physician that will verify that their need for the drug is legitimate.

Elgin's proposal will only allow locations that would grow or sell
cannabis to be industrial, research, and office parks and to be
considered provisional uses. Of course, setbacks of 2,500 feet would
be required from schools and residential settings. The city has truly
taken the stand to keep medical marijuana where it belongs, away from
vulnerable locations.

With a 9-0 vote by the city council on Jan. 22, the city is truly
showing its determination to be ready for operation when the state
finalizes its regulations on how medical marijuana can legally be dispensed.

For those patients suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer,
Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, the
use of medical marijuana can provide relief from needless agony. Some
traditional pain management medications cause extreme lack of
coherency and often lose their effectiveness. Medical marijuana is a
welcomed alternative to other traditional pain management programs.

By its pro-active approach to legal dispensing of medical marijuana
within the city limits, the City of Elgin has shown itself to have the
rights of those in need of pain management in the proper perspective,
as well as keeping the general public safe.

Kudos is deserving to you all.
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MAP posted-by: Matt