IL moves closer to legalizing medicinal marijuana

Senate committee votes 6-4 in favor of legislation
IL Marijuana

Posted: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 5:05 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- Illinois has taken a step toward legalizing the medical use of marijuana.

A state Senate committee Wednesday voted 6-4 to let people with debilitating illnesses like AIDS or cancer ease their symptoms with marijuana.

Democratic Senator John Cullerton says the vote offers "a glimmer of hope" that his legislation will be approved by the entire General Assembly. The committee approved similar legislation last year, but it was voted down by the full Senate.

The measure would let people possess marijuana if they have a doctor's permission. They could have up to eight cannabis plants and 2½ ounces of usable marijuana at a time.

Violating the law would carry tougher penalties than simple marijuana possession.

Technically, Illinois authorized medical marijuana in 1978. But implementation was left to the Public Health Department and it never took action, so the law has been in limbo.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)