April 15, 2008

Action Alert

SB 2865 Medical Marijuana Bill Amended – Call your Senator

SB 2865 was amended and passed out of committee today. SB 2865 will now go to the full Senate for a vote this week! The Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Public Health joined ILCAAAP in opposing SB 2865 in committee.

SB 2865 defines a 60 day supply of marijuana for medicine as 7 plants and 2 ounces of dried usable marijuana. Education Voices, Inc. calculated the number of "joints" that could be produced from 7 plants grown indoors--that's a lot of pot for one person!

Marijuana grown outdoors can produce 1 pound of marijuana. Marijuana plants grown indoors yield less marijuana because they are generally smaller. One "joint" weighs 0.0136 ounces. If a marijuana plant grown indoors conservatively yields a ½ pound of marijuana, you can make 588 "joints." Seven plants can produce 4,116 "joints."

Additionally, indoor grow operations can be harvested 4 times a year which could make 16,464 "joints." It is important to know that a plant grown indoors produces a higher potency THC.

While the sponsor has renamed SB 2865 a Medical Marijuana Pilot Program, this bill is full of loopholes. Once the door is opened to legalize marijuana for medicine for 1,200 people, how can it be closed after 3 years?

For Immediate Action

  1. Call your State Senator (217-782-2000) and ask him/her to vote NO on SB 2865.
  2. Share this Action Alert with others and ask them to call--church, co-workers, friends, family, neighbors, etc.
  3. Forward to 10 others.
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