Illinois medical marijuana bill makes history in Senate; awaits House floor vote

With the support of courageous sponsors like Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) and Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act passed the state Senate 30-28 on May 27, marking the first time ever that an effective medical marijuana bill was approved by a chamber of the Illinois General Assembly. Three days later, the clock ran out and the Illinois House of Representatives recessed before the bill could be called for a vote; however, SB 1381 is now well positioned for a House floor vote, possibly during the fall veto session or early next year.

While this legislation has made amazing progress, there is still a good deal of work to be done educating members of the House before they vote on SB 1381. Despite widespread voter support for a medical marijuana law in Illinois, many representatives are still under the mistaken impression that voting in favor of SB 1381 will somehow put them in bad standing with their constituencies. It's up to you to change that impression, which you can do by contacting your state representative and asking him or her to vote "yes" on SB 1381 when the time comes. Instead of simply e-mailing your letter using our automated system, we encourage you to print the letter out and mail it to your representative. Even better, write your letter out longhand and mail it. In short, the more time you put into your letter, as well as the more you personalize it, the more of an impact it will have with your lawmaker.

After you have contacted your representative, please send an e-mail letting your senator know that you are disappointed in him or her for voting "no" on SB 1381. Remember to keep a respectful and professional tone when expressing your displeasure; while it is important to make your concerns known, it is counterproductive to make inappropriate or offensive remarks. You can download a PDF showing how each senator voted here. (If your senator voted "yes," click here to send an e-mail thanking him or her for supporting Illinois' sick and dying patients.)

If you'd like to do even more, click here for other ways you can help.

If you are a patient or medical professional interested in getting involved personally by setting up a meeting with your representative, please send an e-mail to Nathan@mpp.org that includes your name, contact info (address and phone number), and a brief description of your medical condition(s) or area(s) of practice.

SB 1381 would allow seriously ill patients with diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis to use marijuana if recommended by their doctor. If this legislation becomes law, patients with a state-issued ID card would be allowed to possess up to six plants (three of which may be mature) and 2 ounces of usable marijuana.

The Marijuana Policy Project thanks you for your support and all that you have done to help forward this legislation. Because of people like you, patients like these may no longer have to live in fear of arrest for using a medicine that works for them.