cannabisnews.com: Illinois Could Be Next State To Legalize MMJ





Illinois Could Be Next State To Legalize MMJ
Posted by CN Staff on February 23, 2006 at 20:17:57 PT
By Jordan Wilson, Daily Egyptian
Source: Daily Egyptian
Illinois -- To Bruce Mirken, denying people in need of marijuana is absurd - if they need it for medical reasons, he believes they should have it. Mirken, the director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, may see this vision become a reality if the Illinois medical marijuana bill is passed through the General Assembly.
The bill, which was passed by the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee by a 6-4 vote last week, would legalize the use of medical marijuana."It's simply crazy that we threaten patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis or AIDS with arrest or jail for something that may help them," Mirken said. "There's simply no doubt that marijuana relieves nausea, appetitive loss, pain and other troubling symptoms."The bill itself would allow for patients with such debilitating conditions to grow up to 12 marijuana plants with a physician's approval. According to the bill, qualified patients and their caregivers would be granted an identification card by the Department of Public Health that would allow them to grow cannabis. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said he didn't support the medical marijuana bill. He said that doctors report the same chemicals in marijuana can be given and made available in the pill form, which is available with a doctor's permission.Aside from that, he said it would basically be a step toward condoning cannabis as a legal substance."The biggest scare I would have with it is it would be the first step toward the legalization of marijuana," Bost said. "If you legalize it in the state of Illinois, there will be other states around us where it is not legal. Then what other problems might occur?"The biggest problem, Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Rick Hector said, would be drug enforcement. Distinguishing between those who are using the drug for medical purposes and those who are illegally using it would be difficult line to draw. On top of that, Hector said 12 marijuana plants could yield up to 60 pounds of marijuana in a year's time, creating a surplus that could turn into illegal drug transactions."We really feel the potential for abusing this would be pretty high," Hector said. "It will definitely make it more complicated for law enforcement officers to make legitimate cases about who is in violation."Kyle Doty, a junior studying agribusiness economics from Noble, said proper usage would be the key if the law were to take effect."I think it's fine for the people who need it as long as it doesn't cause a problem for the rest of society," Doty said. "There could be problems; they should regulate how it's done and keep an eye on the people who have it."If passed, Senate Bill 2568 would make Illinois the twelfth state to allow marijuana use for medical reasons. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington are states that currently protect medical marijuana. Mirken said it shouldn't stop there, either; medical marijuana protection should be across the board. He said marijuana, although it can be a risk to use, is safer than some over-the-counter and prescription drugs. He said it is impossible to overdose on marijuana, whereas a 10-year-old could readily buy enough Tylenol to overdose and kill a whole classroom of kids. "Obviously, no system devised by humans is perfect," Mirken said. "I can't assure no one will cheat, just like with prescription drugs. But you don't keep helpful treatments away from someone who needs them because someone else doesn't know how to use it." Complete Title: Illinois Could Be Next State To Legalize Medical MarijuanaSource: Daily Egyptian (IL Edu)Author: Jordan Wilson, Daily EgyptianPublished: Thursday, February 23, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Daily EgyptianContact: editor siu.eduWebsite: http://www.dailyegyptian.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/ Illinois Legislature Takes New Look at Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21618.shtmlMedical Pot Passes Senatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21614.shtmlMedical Cannabis Bill Gains Momentum http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21608.shtml 
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Comment #9 posted by Max Flowers on February 25, 2006 at 09:34:48 PT
I'm a converted Morrissey-basher
He was questioned by the FBI for calling Bush a terrorist? I used to make fun of his musical style, which I never liked... still don't, but now I like his attitude. I'm now a fan of the man if not his music. You're not *really* cool until you've been harassed by the administration!
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Comment #8 posted by westnyc on February 24, 2006 at 17:49:14 PT
Morrissey
I am a huge Morrissey fan; and, The Smiths were my Rolling Stones. Honestly, I don't find Morrissey's lyrics of today any more political than his lyrics of yesterday. It's also important to remember that their typical fan tends to be a politically aware and socially conscience individual who listens to this type of music for this reason, hence their origins on college radio. Maybe that's the reason they interviewed him since his fanbase is atypical of many rock stars. Off topic; but, once me and a group of friends sojourned from Kalamazoo to Hampstead in North London to see where he lives. We were quite surprised by the massive gated mansion and the new Ferrari sitting in his driveway, as well as several other luxury cars. 
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Comment #7 posted by dongenero on February 24, 2006 at 08:45:22 PT
Chicken Little was right......
The sky is falling.What ever will we do. It's surely the end of the world as we know it.
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Comment #6 posted by OverwhelmSam on February 24, 2006 at 02:58:39 PT
It Will Make Their Job Too Hard
What kind of cry babies are we hiring to "protect and serve?" If police think enforcing the laws passed by the state are too difficult, they should seek a line of work with much less responsibility, like night security guard. Although, by the sound of their sniveling and whining, I'm not too sure they could handle this responsibility either. 
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on February 23, 2006 at 23:22:09 PT
What's Going On?
Seven more U.S. soldiers dead, over a hundred Iraqis dead, and for what? Just so we can send Iraq into a civil war?!? I'm sorry, but if there is anyone out there who still supports Bush and the neo-cons they are very ignorant or just complete idiots. Just look what is happening!Iraqi fears of civil war spur curfew:
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060223-114202-2636r.htmHere's an interesting development. Are we going to bomb the Norwegians now?Norwegian Bourse Director wants oil bourse - priced in euros:
http://www.energybulletin.net/13081.htmlHere's an interesting piece that proves that the American and British governments are very afraid. When we can't speak our minds then haven't the terrorists accomplished their goal? The terrorists in the U.S. and British government, that is...Morrissey Quizzed by FBI:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/240206Morrissey.htmTHE WAY OUT...Unplug the War Machine By Facing the Disturbing Truth of 9/11:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #4 posted by mayan on February 23, 2006 at 21:53:05 PT
Don't Forget!
Sorry, unrelated, but there are some heavyweights on AM radio tonight. It's getting ready to start...Tonight(Thurs.) on Coast to Coast AM - 9/11 Theories- James Fetzer David Ray Griffin Morgan Reynolds: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2006/02/23.htmlCheck here for your local affiliate:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/info/wheretolisten.html
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Comment #3 posted by Commonsense on February 23, 2006 at 21:11:15 PT
12 plants, 60 pounds
I bet what he is talking about is a twelve plant indoor grow with five crops per year (so actually 60 plants) yielding one pound per plant per crop. Law enforcement often use the pound per plant estimate to calculate how much marijuana a crop would produce. They do this for outdoor plants and often for indoor plants as well, even though one pound yeilds on an indoor plant are exceedingly rare. 
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Comment #2 posted by MaRkAyNe on February 23, 2006 at 20:48:24 PT:
yeah Right
No plant will produce five pounds of buds in a year. Outdoors you only get one season, and indoors your not gonna get same yield. 12 plants could give you between just a few ounces indoors to Maybe 12 pounds outdoors. Even one pound per plant is pushing it. First of all that ignoramus is probably counting all the leaves, stems and probably the soil too! Dry buds are 8-10% water as compared to living tissue of at least 80% so... 60 pounds of dried material would be around 600 pounds! (50 pounds per plant). 
 Besides- all the arguments about how much they can have and then they complain that smoking is bad for you.
Let them grow more- then they can just make hash or only use the most potent parts so they have to smoke less... Even if Marijuana is getting substantially more potent (doubtful), it would be an advancement for the argument of legalization as it is a purer substance. 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 23, 2006 at 20:21:30 PT
5 Pounds Per Plant?
That sure seems like a lot to me. How big would a plant have to grow to make 5 pounds of Buds?Excerpt: On top of that, Hector said 12 marijuana plants could yield up to 60 pounds of marijuana in a year's time, creating a surplus that could turn into illegal drug transactions.
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