Reminder: 8:00 am. Human Services Committee Hearing. Stratton Building Room D-1. Springfield, IL. We’d love to have some supporters there (wear a suit and get there about 15 minutes early). There’s a bus coming from Chicago, leaving at 4 am. Contact me today and I’ll give you the number to arrange for taking the bus. If you’re coming from Bloomington-Normal, you can hitch a ride with me.
The Illinois Medical Cannabis Act (HB 407)æwas introduced in the House of Representatives on January 26 by Rep. Larry McKeon.æ

Creates the Medical Cannabis Act. Provides that a person who has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition and the person’s primary caregiver may be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Human Services that permits the person or the person’s primary caregiver to legally possess no more than 12 cannabis plants and two and one-half ounces of usable cannabis. Provides that a person who possesses a registry identification card is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denial of any right or privilege, including civil penalty or disciplinary action by a professional licensing board, for the medical use of cannabis; provided that the qualifying patient or primary caregiver possesses an amount of cannabis that does not exceed 12 cannabis plants and two and one-half ounces of usable cannabis. Amends the Cannabis Control Act to make conforming changes consistent with the Medical Cannabis Act. Effective immediately.

Full text available here.

Switching to Washington… Drug Warrior Mark Souder is holding a hearing in his pet subcommittee — The Committee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources — titled: “Is There Such a Thing as Safe Drug Abuse?” Have you ever heard such a pre-judged title? This is what passes for a legislative hearing in Washington. […]