cannabisnews.com: Clergy Back Medical Marijuana in Illinois Clergy Back Medical Marijuana in Illinois Posted by CN Staff on April 18, 2007 at 05:46:17 PT By P.J. Huffstutter, Times Staff Writer Source: Los Angeles Times Chicago -- Arguing that Illinois lawmakers have a moral duty to legalize medical use of marijuana, dozens of pastors and church leaders are urging them to allow doctors to recommend the drug for seriously ill patients.The religious leaders say they feel compelled to support doctors who want to use whatever tools necessary to ease the pain of the extremely sick. A petition was e-mailed to state senators last month. The bill, SB 650, is expected to come to a vote Thursday, said Sen. John J. Cullerton, the bill's author. If passed and signed into law, Illinois would become the 13th state to allow the use of medical marijuana."This is about compassion for people," Cullerton said. "Many patients are not having trouble finding it. They just don't want to be criminals for using it."Countered Calvina L. Fay, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation, a national drug policy group critical of such measures: "People can't just call anything medicine. Just because they're religious leaders does not mean they can judge the merits of something like this."The letter, which asked that neither medical practitioners face criminal sanctions for recommending the drug nor patients for using it if doctors have told them it could help, reflects the recent trend among religious leaders toward taking a firmer stand on policy issues with which they normally aren't identified. The signers included representatives of Protestant, Jewish, Unitarian and other faiths. Evangelical conservative groups recently have thrown their support behind environmental measures to curtail global warming, citing their belief that people have a moral responsibility to care for the planet.In recent years, a growing number of religious denominations have spoken in favor of marijuana's medicinal value. Though most faith-based groups oppose recreational use of the drug, some have started to ask state and federal government agencies to intervene on behalf of patients who struggle with glaucoma, cancer or AIDS.Note: Dozens of religious leaders sign a petition sent to state senators, who are expected to vote on a bill Thursday. Snipped:Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/yrcqy9Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: P.J. Huffstutter, Times Staff WriterPublished: April 18, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Articles:Legalize Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22880.shtmlYes To Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22862.shtmlSick People Need Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22849.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by mayan on April 18, 2007 at 17:10:19 PT Calvina Faye = Hypocrite Countered Calvina L. Fay, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation, a national drug policy group critical of such measures: "People can't just call anything medicine. Just because they're religious leaders does not mean they can judge the merits of something like this."Just because Calvina Fay is a huge name in the drug-testing industry does not mean she can judge the merits of something like this!I'm glad the L.A. Times ran this because the Illinois media seems to be blacking this bill out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:24:48 PT Look! http://www.wsoctv.com/news/11298348/detail.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:21:27 PT Judges I wonder what drugs you take. Shouldn't you be reporting that to the public if you judge what drugs we take? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:18:17 PT Hope I wonder what drugs Calvina takes. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hope on April 18, 2007 at 11:05:41 PT Oh, Calvina. "Countered Calvina L. Fay, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation, a national drug policy group critical of such measures: "People can't just call anything medicine. Just because they're religious leaders does not mean they can judge the merits of something like this.""Just because you are professional prohibitionist does not mean that you can judge the merits of something like this. In fact...all you really know about it is made up propaganda scare mongering, lies, and hysteria, and getting to personally wield overbearing authoritarianism.I'll take Dr. Abram's and Dr. Russo's "judgement" on the merits of cannabis, over yours.Calvina...if you can't help us into a new and better era, please, get out of the way. As well as as choosing to be a wild eyed prohibitionist...you're working as an obstructionist to a better life for all mankind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 18, 2007 at 07:58:44 PT Hallelujah! To these ministers I say unto you:"14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment