http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140417/news/140418435 Illinois medical marijuana rules drop gun language Illinois regulators finalizing the state's conditions for medical marijuana have removed a proposed rule that would have barred legal gun owners from becoming cannabis-using patients, a person close to the process told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the draft regulations aren't expected to be published until Friday. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the change in its Thursday editions. Some patients had said they would rather continue to use marijuana illegally rather than give up their firearms owners ID cards. The wording drew numerous complaints in public comments from gun owners who hoped to apply for medical cannabis cards. Many said their rights were being trampled. The wording also would have affected caregivers applying for medical marijuana cards. Both patients and caregivers would have been required to certify their understanding of the conflict between gun ownership and medical marijuana use. The wording stemmed from an interpretation of federal law. State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, sponsored the medical cannabis legislation and sits on the committee that will vote on the rules. He said Thursday he has been told the provision "is out of the rules." "I'm happy to see that they have changed the provision," Lang said. "I did ask them to remove it. I'm not the only person who did." The news was greeted warmly by advocates for patients. "Anything that makes it less burdensome for the patients is always a good thing," said Julie Falco of Chicago, who speaks openly about how she has used cannabis to control her pain from multiple sclerosis. "It never did make any sense." The Illinois medical marijuana program is a four-year pilot project with some of the strictest standards in the nation Several state agencies are developing the regulations for how marijuana will be grown and distributed to adult patients with certain qualifying health conditions. The rules will set fees for patients, dispensaries and cultivation centers and will lay out how entrepreneurs can apply for a limited number of licenses to grow or sell cannabis products. The gun dispute centered on 93 words out of 48 pages of rules proposed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The dropped wording had advised gun owners they'd be in violation of state and federal law if they were approved for a medical marijuana card and didn't give up their firearms. It said gun owners who obtained medical marijuana cards "may be subject to administrative proceedings by the Illinois State Police if they do not voluntarily surrender" their firearms owners ID cards or concealed carry permits. Good! Now Illinois MMJ users won't have ROB ME! I can't own a gun "signs painted on their backs"! Banning gun ownership for medical patients makes us into perfect victims for home invasions! Many prescription drugs are noted for causing mental changes- "thoughts of suicide, or changes in mood" to quote one on TV. So where is the outcry to ban gun ownership among prescription drug users? There is none! The attempt to ban gun ownership is just another crude ruse to discriminate against cannabis users! It is nothing more than a ploy to make us too afraid and defenseless to use this healing herb! Good on Illinois for dropping this dangerous bit of language from their law! The law is still likely "far less than perfect" , but it IS a place to start from! It is easier to change an existing law, than to make a new one from scratch! As soon as the rules are published, note what is NOT on their list! Pick a condition- PTSD? (I don't know if they will have it covered or not, but it's a good example.) We have a LOT of vets with PTSD, and some of them are walking "time-bombs". Cannabis helps to defuse the stress and eases the nightmares and violent outbursts! Combat veterans testify that medical pot helps with their PTSD (news – 2013) http://www.katu.com/news/medicalalert/Combat-veterans-testify-that-medical-pot-helps-with-their-PTSD-201348641.html Medical marijuana turns former soldier's life around (news – 2011) http://www.examiner.com/cannabis-culture-in-phoenix/medical-marijuana-turns-former-soldier-s-life-around THC does what no other drugs can do for people with PTSD- it helps them forget the bad stuff and focus on the good! Study: THC Increases Brain Activity In Response To Positive Stimuli (news – 2013) http://blog.norml.org/2013/08/27/study-thc-increases-brain-activity-in-response-to-positive-stimuli/ Like one Viet Nam vet told me decades ago "It (cannabis) just makes life worth living again!" And all those "Soccer Moms" with kids with epilepsy? THEY are getting the laws changed by being PITAs to the politicians! Don't let them have all the "fun"! Become an activist! Pick your ailment, and start educating your politicians and doctors, why it NEEDS to be added to the list! My "Granny Storm Crow's List" will give you all the studies and articles that you could need to work with! To get your FREE PDF copy, just PM me your email address, or check out the bottom of my sig for mine! We can do this! Granny
Yay! Glad to see my home state doing some good these days. Still love California better though :-D Definitely more fond of the west coast and growing huge ganja bushes.
I'm glad it worked out. That law was complete nonsense. Did they think that cannabis users would go on a crazy killing spree? Lol more reefer madness BS.
Richard, activists, like myself and many others, are trying to make Illinois the "California" of the midwest! lol Admittedly, a restrictive MMJ law is a feeble start, but it IS a start! We just have to keep educating folks! Show them what cannabis can do for them (besides get them pleasantly high ) ! But I do LOVE living in California, which is why I work so hard to get cannabis legalized everywhere! You ALL deserve what I already have! Granny