Is Illinois Going To Pot?

Well not all the way. Just Medical Marijuana according to the link.

Funny thing is that this is being done by the State Legislature since Illinois is not an Initiative State.

You can find a summary of the Bill at Mother Earth Holistic Health. I’d also like to see a “Father Time Cop A Dime” organization, but given the wording of the bill and the distribution plans the bill proposes, this bill, unless the Feds change their minds, is largely symbolic and what you would expect from a legislative mind set.

Let us start with the patient rules:

A patient is granted protection from arrest only if his or her physician certifies, in writing, that the patient has a specified debilitating medical condition and that the patient would receive therapeutic benefit from medical cannabis. The patient would send a copy of the written certification to the Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH), and DPH would issue an ID card after verifying the information. Patients would only be able to obtain a recommendation from a physician who is treating them for the underlying qualifying condition and with whom the patient has a “bona fide physician-patient relationship.” This would prevent doctors from specializing or practicing exclusively in providing recommendations, as has happened in other states.

Ah. So the doctors would get customer visits from this. That buys off one interest group.

There is a long list of qualifying conditions. And they are very specific. PTSD is not among the conditions.

Here is where the whole thing becomes stillborn. The Dispensary rules.

Unlike previous iterations of medical cannabis legislation in Illinois, HB 30 would not permit patients or caregivers to cultivate marijuana. Instead, patients would purchase medical cannabis from state-regulated Medical Cannabis Organizations (MCOs), which would cultivate the medical cannabis. MCOs are limited to one per state senate district (maximum 59), must be non-profit, and must be issued a registration by the Department of Public Health to operate. MCO applicants must pay a $5,000 application fee (successful applicants must also submit a $20,000 registration fee) and submit a valid application, including a location that complies with local zoning laws and planned procedures for oversight, security, and recordkeeping. The Department would conduct background checks on prospective MCO agents and must deny the application if any principal officer has been convicted of a violent crime or a felony involving a controlled substance. The facilities would be subject to random inspections, and all of their staff must undergo background checks. MCOs may not locate within 2,500 feet of a school or share office space with physicians. All cannabis would have to be cultivated in enclosed, locked facilities with appropriate security measures in place. Any MCO that fails to comply with the Act could have its registration suspended or revoked by the Department.

Finally, the bill would also create enhanced penalties for any MCO agent who illegally possesses or distributes marijuana under the guise of medical cannabis. For example, manufacturing or delivering 2.5- 10 grams of cannabis is typically a Class A misdemeanor, but would become a Class 3 felony if committed by an MCO agent.

I’d prefer a more freewheeling distribution system so there was competition. And more targets for the Feds. But this is Illinois after all. In the competition for the most corrupt State in America. In fact according to some it has already won the competition.

You have to wonder though. The President’s home state is Illinois. Is the fix in? We shall see. In any case this is a start. And expect that in coming elections those running for office will be looking for campaign donations to extend or restrict the law.

If you live in Illinois and want to find out who to give your envelopes to or just contact you can go here.

All things considered though if I ever decide to get into cannabis for medical or other reasons I think I’d move to Colorado. And one final question. Where is the Republican Party? You know. The small government party. The “leave it to the States” party. MIA. As usual. The stupid party is roiling with inertia. Which is a contradiction in terms. Just like the party.

You might also find interesting the person behind the curtain, listed under research, Amanda Reiman. Dr. Reiman has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois, Chicago, plus a whole bunch of other titles, Degrees and alphabet soup behind her name. Including Director of Research For Berkeley Patients Group.


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  1. […] If You’ve Got’em Posted on November 21, 2012 3:30 pm by Bill Quick Classical Values » Is Illinois Going To Pot? All things considered though if I ever decide to get into cannabis for medical or other reasons I […]