Medical marijuana bill defeated, but still alive Once again, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass medical marijuana legislation when it came up for a vote in early May. The final tally for HB 30, The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, was 53-61, with four voting “present.†However, video of the vote reveals that several members who voted “no†or “present†were willing to vote “yes†until it became clear the bill wouldn't pass. This means that we're not seven votes short, but more likely two or three. While the outcome was obviously disappointing, we're not giving up. The vote was close enough for the bill to be placed on “postponed consideration,†meaning it can be called again if and when the sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) thinks he has the votes. We were in a similar position last year and found a way to pick up several additional votes. Doing so this year should mean finally removing criminal penalties for the doctor-advised use of medical cannabis in Illinois (the Senate passed a similar bill in 2009 and Gov. Pat Quinn has indicated his support). So how can you help? First, check the roll call of the vote and find out how your representative voted. If he or she voted ‘yes,' send a thank you email. If the vote was “no,†politely ask your representative to reconsider. And of course, if you or a loved one suffers from a serious illness such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or Crohn's Disease, you have a unique opportunity to help influence legislative decision makers. Please email me and we can discuss ways for you to get involved. You can also check out our “take action†page for more tips, such as writing a letter to the editor of your local paper. Finally, make sure you're subscribed to our Illinois email alerts so we can keep you posted with timely updates and tips on getting involved. lets get this thing passed