March 8, 2007

Action Alert

Senate to vote on Medical Marijuana Bill (SB 650)

The Senate Public Health Committee heard testimony and voted SB 650 out of committee by a vote of 6 Yes and 4 NO. Groups opposing the bill included statewide prevention organizations, the Department of Public Health, and law enforcement. The same out-of-state group--Marijuana Policy Project--that is working to pass SB 650 also worked to legalize marijuana in Nevada last fall. While we have compassion for people who suffer, SB 650 would open the state to wide spread marijuana use.

For Immediate Action

Call your State Senator (217-782-2000) and ask him/her to vote NO on Senate Bill 650.
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Talking Points to Oppose SB 650

Marijuana has not been approved as a beneficial drug by the FDA. The American Medical Association recommends that marijuana be retained as a Schedule 1 drug pending the outcome of well-controlled studies of marijuana. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal Controlled Substances Act prevents the cultivation and possession of marijuana, even by people for personal "medical" use.
The perception of marijuana as medicine leads teenagers to believe that marijuana is not a harmful drug. This could lead to increased illegal drug use. Adolescent marijuana use increased in 8 out of 10 states that legalized medical marijuana. (Data >from National Household Survey on Drug Use & Health, CEDARS) Illinois already has a marijuana problem. In 2004 there were 32,961 admissions for marijuana treatment in Illinois. That is an increase of 22% for Cook County and 29% for the entire state from 2001 to 2004. (IL. Dept. of Human Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse)
SB 650 would allow a large quantity of a controlled substance to be placed in the hands of one person. A "primary caregiver" is not a doctor, but anyone 18 years or older who has agreed to assist up to 3 qualifying patients in the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use, delivery, transfer, or transportation of cannabis or paraphernalia relating to the consumption of cannabis to alleviate the patient's medical condition. The "primary caregiver" may possess 12 cannabis plants and 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis for each qualifying patient. A teenager, 18 years or older, could be in possession of 36 marijuana plants and 7.5 ounces of usable cannabis.
SB 650 prohibits a school, employer, or landlord from refusing to enroll, employ, lease to, or penalize a person solely for his/her status as a registered patient or caregiver.
SB 650 allows anyone with an out of state registry identification card or its equivalent to possess 12 cannabis plants and 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis in Illinois without registering as a qualifying patient. Underage youth use fake IDs to obtain alcohol. Will people forge out of state cards to grow and obtain marijuana in Illinois?
SB 650 allows children under the age of 18 to use medical marijuana if their parent or guardian consents in writing and serves as the primary caregiver.
SB 650 allows homeless applicants to obtain a registry identification card. Without an address or phone number on the card, how can the card be tracked if it is lost or stolen?
SB 650 limits home rule and requires a municipality to allow one dispensary to operate where zoning permits retail businesses in a municipality of 50,000 or more and 15 dispensaries in Chicago. A dispensary could have an unlimited number of marijuana plants and usable marijuana and be located in areas where families and children shop.