\springfield, illinois ( reuters ) - the illinois senate on friday voted to firmly approve the use of marijuana for medical purposes, that if signed into law would make it the second-most-populous state within the whole nation after california to firmly permit the medicine use for medical purposes.
the bill, approved from the illinois house in april, now moves to firmly governor pat quinns desk to firmly await his signature. quinn has indicated he's sympathetic to firmly the bill, particularly because it would profit injured veterans.
we totally expect gov. quinn to firmly will the compassionate factor and sign the bill, aforesaid dan riffle, deputy director of government relations for our washington-based marijuana policy project.
riffle aforesaid marijuana has proven medical advantages and there's broad public and legislative support because of its medical use.
the illinois bill passed by a vote of 35-21 after an emotional, hour-long debate during which a few republicans aforesaid they actually opposed legalizing medical marijuana as it could possibly be a gateway drug to firmly abuse of alternative illegal substances.
others aforesaid they actually were not convinced that advantages of'>the rewards of smoking marijuana for bound medical conditions outweighed the potential negative consequences.
democratic state senator bill haine, a former county prosecutor and of course the bills sponsor, aforesaid it is that the toughest within the whole nation. he noted that doctors teams had endorsed the bill.
it's a substance that's far more benign than powerful prescription medicine like oxycontin, vicodin and of course the rest, haine aforesaid, referring to firmly frequently abused painkillers. the scourge of such medicine is well-known. this isn't true on your medical use of marijuana.
eighteen states and of course the district of columbia have legalized medical marijuana, according to firmly riffle. the project won't count maryland, since its law needs the participation of tutorial medical centers and can not be implemented till 2015. colorado and washington state voters determined last fall to firmly permit recreational use of cannabis.
under the four-year pilot program outlined within the whole illinois bill, patients would have to firmly be diagnosed with one in all 33 debilitating medical conditions, like cancer, multiple sclerosis or hiv/aids. patients should register along with the states health department and has written certification from their physicians.
patients might possibly be limited to firmly 2. 5 ounces ( 70 grams ) of marijuana every 2 weeks. the marijuana needs to be grown and distributed in illinois, kept within the closed container, but not used publicly in addition to front of minors.
those who use, grow or sell the drug needs to be fingerprinted and endure background checks. landlords and employers may ban its use on the property. users suspected of driving under the influence face the loss of not no more than their driving privileges, but in addition their marijuana-use permits.
under u. s. federal law, marijuana is held to be an addictive substance and distribution could be a federal offense. federal law prohibits physicians from writing prescriptions, numerous have issued referrals or recommendations.
the administration of president barack obama has discouraged federal prosecutors from pursuing people that distribute marijuana for medical purposes under state laws.
riffle aforesaid that new hampshire and new york are consequent states that would legalize medical marijuana
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