Marijuana Bill Snuffed Out?

State Rep. still short votes on medical marijuana legislation

It’s still high priority, but the odds of it passing appear low.

State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie) says he’s received strong support for his legislation to legalize medical marijuana, but he still does not have the votes needed to pass it. Lang needs 60 votes for the bill's approval, but only about 50 or so lawmakers will commit to supporting it, according to the Daily Herald.

“It’s about health care, it’s not about drugs,” said Lang to the Daily Herald.

If passed, the measure would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to chronically ill patients instead of narcotics like Oxycontin and Vicodin.

The website illinoismedicalmarijuana.org is pushing Illinois citizens to light up the conversation in Springfield. The website quotes Lang’s office as saying Illinois supporters “aren’t making enough noise” for Lang to be assured enough votes to bring it to the house floor.

The Illinois Senate approved the measure about 10 months ago. The big timetable now appears to be if the House can bring it to a vote before new lawmakers take their seats next January.

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