Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jun 2015
Source: Northwest Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2015 Northwest Herald Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nwherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2762
Author: Kurt W. Florian Jr.

PATIENTS ARE WAITING

To the Editor:

I am writing on behalf of the epilepsy community in response to the 
editorial "Medical marijuana program slow to unfold."

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago was heavily involved in 
passing a recent amendment to the Illinois Compassionate Use of 
Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, adding epilepsy as a debilitating 
condition, and it is committed to the success of this program, 
ensuring it is safe and accessible for all patients.

There are 3 million Americans living with epilepsy, and more than 
130,000 in the Chicago area. Epilepsy is a neurological condition 
that produces reoccurring seizures, and, in the case of about 
one-third of those people with epilepsy, their seizures are 
uncontrolled by conventional treatments. Many individuals, including 
children with epilepsy, have experienced remarkable results using a 
form of medicinal cannabis called cannabidiol. Despite the fact that 
the program was launched Aug. 1, 2013, no one has received treatment.

The state must move expeditiously to remove the barriers keeping 
patients from accessing this life-changing medicine. Bureaucracies 
within state government are delaying the process and, in effect, 
leaving an uncertain deadline for when patients will be able to 
receive medical cannabis from their nearest dispensary.

Furthermore, I have heard from patients their physicians will not 
certify them for this legal, effective medicine. The people of 
Illinois have spoken, and our lawmakers have made it clear cannabis 
for medical treatment is acceptable and legal in Illinois. We 
respectfully ask the Rauner administration to move this program 
forward as deliberately as possible.

Kurt W. Florian Jr.

President and CEO Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom