Quinn 'open minded' to legalized medical marijuana SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says he's "open minded" to legalizing marijuana for people with serious illnesses. He told reporters Wednesday that he recently met with a veteran suffering from war wounds who was helped by the medical use of marijuana. The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that would create a pilot program. The legislation would allow physicians who have an existing relationship with a patient to prescribe marijuana for some conditions. Patients would be limited to buying 2.5 ounces at a time from state regulated dispensaries. Supporters say marijuana can relieve pain without the side effects of prescription drugs. Opponents say 2.5 ounces is too much and could give patients an opportunity to sell what they don't use. The bill is HB1. Online: Illinois General Assembly Home Page Looks like IL is working itself up to join 18 other states as a green state,,NO more "Red or Blue" states in my vocabulary,,they are either green or yellow.
Clay HB1 is being debated in the Illinois House as I write this....and the bill should pass this time...(last year there were 58 votes for and you need 60 to pass) And Quinn's statement today is a vast improvement over his statement last week on the same topic..... Quinn (or Governor Jello as we call him) must have read the polls.... Edited to add that: A. There is an identical bill in the Illinois State Senate and B. The Senate passed the two previous (more liberal) bills very easily ....