cannabisnews.com: MMJ Legislation Narrowly Passes Illinois Senate
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MMJ Legislation Narrowly Passes Illinois Senate
Posted by CN Staff on May 27, 2009 at 18:08:56 PT
By Tim Taliaferro
Source: Huffington Post
Illinois -- A bill to legalize medical marijuana narrowly passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday by a vote of 30 to 28, with 1 'present' vote.The vote on SB 1381, The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, was postponed repeatedly as its sponsor, Sen. William R. Haine (D-Alton), waited until all his 'yes' votes were present to call the vote.
That opportunity came late Wednesday afternoon, and passage of the controversial legislation was met with clapping in the Senate gallery."I'm very satisfied," Haine told the Huffington Post after the Senate adjourned. "It's a good bill, and it's on its way to the House. Realistically, I don't think they'll get to it this week, but it will be ready for them in the fall."As the vote neared this week, Haine said he approached every senator and asked simply that each vote his or her conscience."I didn't do any arm-twisting," Haine said. "Nothing. I didn't put pressure on anyone."The bill, which allows patients with diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS to use marijuana on their doctors' advice without the threat of arrest and incarceration, grew steadily more restrictive over the course of the legislative session in order to allay concerns of law enforcement officials.The process for getting and filling a prescription for medical marijuana became more carefully controlled, the amount of cannabis plants that patients can have in their home declined and the State Police were given a more prominent role on an a state panel charged with monitoring the entire medical marijuana system.During the nearly 45 minutes of deliberation, several senators rose to speak in favor of and in opposition to the controversial bill, with each side trying to characterize the bill as either an issue of compassion and common sense or as dangerous and reckless.Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) called the bill a monstrosity and urged his colleagues not to start down the road to legalization.Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) teared up as he spoke about his father's painful death, for which he said pharmaceuticals offered little relief."You can pick over any bill that any legislator authors to divert attention away from the heart of the matter," Raoul said. "We can make this a political issue, but this is about compassion.""Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, John Adams, one of our founding fathers once said facts are stubborn things," Haine said right before the vote. "And the facts surrounding medical marijuana are that it does offer a benefit to those who suffer."Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski (R-Sycamore) asked that the narrow vote be confirmed by a roll call, which it was.After the recount, the gallery again erupted in applause.Reflecting on the vote, Haine said he considered the bill's passage a milestone."We did something in the teeth of a preconceived notion of marijuana that there's nothing good to say about it, when the medical evidence is to the contrary," Haine said. "That's a sign of a mature society."Source: Huffington Post (NY)Author: Tim TaliaferroPublished: May 27, 2009Copyright: 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, LLC Contact: scoop huffingtonpost.comWebsite: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/pW8AdM6jCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on May 28, 2009 at 09:15:35 PT
 dongenero
I liked that too.
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Comment #13 posted by dongenero on May 28, 2009 at 08:50:27 PT
great news, hopefully the House will concur.
I like this part especially:"......passage of the controversial legislation was met with clapping in the Senate gallery.""After the recount, the gallery again erupted in applause."
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Comment #12 posted by NikoKun on May 27, 2009 at 21:40:32 PT
Republicans...
Why are so many republicans simply incapable of giving this issue serious consideration?
Their ideals just blind them so completely... Ignorance...
It's sad how hard it is to make progress, because of such foolishness.
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Comment #11 posted by BobbyRa on May 27, 2009 at 21:36:19 PT
This is great news
I had been quite negative on the subject lately. Renewed hope here. 
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 27, 2009 at 20:51:14 PT
MikeC
Glad you liked the story. I like Chicago. 
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Comment #9 posted by MikeC on May 27, 2009 at 20:37:04 PT
FoM...
That's a great story. Sounds like you were west on Lake Street. Right under the "L" and the streets are very narrow.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 27, 2009 at 20:32:31 PT
MikeC
I've spent a good deal of time years ago in Chicago but it was with my husband in a Semi mostly with steel. One time he had roofing to go to the Chicago Philharmonic and had to back his semi down this narrow street and make a really hard turn. He was maneuvering under the L. When he finally got the roofing material where it was suppose to be the people that were waiting and watching gave him a thumbs up and applause. It was cool.
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Comment #7 posted by MikeC on May 27, 2009 at 20:16:44 PT
FoM...
It's funny...I lived the first thirty years of my life on the west side of Chicago. I currently live in Wisconsin, yet work in Minnesota. All three of those states are close or have been close to passing Medical Marijuana. Whichever of those three makes it law first is where I will be residing.These are great times!!!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 27, 2009 at 19:48:58 PT
MikeC 
Thank you. I didn't know that.
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Comment #5 posted by MikeC on May 27, 2009 at 19:27:07 PT
Illinois Governor Quinn...
Is expected to support the medical marijuana bill. First however it has to go the the Illinois House of Representatives and they may not get it until the fall.Thiu is great news for Illinois and the midwest in general.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 27, 2009 at 19:18:13 PT
 mydnytmover 
I don't think the Governor of Illinois would veto a medical marijuana bill. Illinois is liberal or at least Chicago is. It's a blue state.
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Comment #3 posted by mydnytmover on May 27, 2009 at 18:54:35 PT
Now What?
Is the Governor of Ill. going to veto like in Mn?
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on May 27, 2009 at 18:49:25 PT
 Sen. William R. Haine, Good Job, Sir!
To the thirty compassionate and sane Senators in Illinois, Good Job!Thank you!
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on May 27, 2009 at 18:16:58 PT
Hallelujah! 
Is Illinois on a mission from God too!
On a mission from God!
[ Post Comment ]


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