By a vote of 4-3, the Illinois House Human Services Committee passed a bill March 4 that would allow seriously ill patients with certain conditions who have their doctors’ recommendations to use medical marijuana without fear of arrest. Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, is sponsoring HB 2514, the House medical marijuana bill.
A companion bill, SB 1381, is sponsored by three-term former state’s attorney Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, in the Illinois Senate and was expected to receive a hearing in the Senate Public Health Committee March 10.
Although this is not the first time a medical marijuana bill was introduced in the Illinois House, this is the first time a House committee passed such a bill. Supporters hope state lawmakers will note that 63 percent of Michigan voters approved a similar law last November and that a 2008 statewide poll shows 68 percent support among Illinois voters for such a statute.