Illinois governor signs medical cannabis law

Posted on August 2nd, 2013 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , .

IllinoisGov. Pat Quinn signed HB1 into law Aug. 1, making Illinois the 20th state to legalize medical marijuana. Nearly 40% of people in the US now live in states that have adopted such laws. The Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act creates a framework to protect physicians and certain qualified medical marijuana patients from arrest and prosecution. HB1 was passed 35-21 by the Illinois House in April, and 61-57 by the Senate in May. HB1, which is scheduled to sunset in four years, was called one of the most restrictive laws in the country by its Senate sponsor Bill Haine (D-Alton). The new law is set to take effect on January 1, 2014.

HB1 allows patients with one of 33 "debilitating medical conditions," such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV to obtain approval from a physician to use medical marijuana. The law entitles qualifying patients to possess 2.5 ounces for a two-week period. Patients will not be able to cultivate cannabis themselves, contrary to most state laws, but will eventually be able to obtain it from one of 60 "registered dispensing organizations," which will be supplied by 22 "licensed cultivation centers." HB1 also taxes the sale of medical marijuana at 7%. (ASA, Aug. 1)

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Illinois passes legalization bill

Global Ganja Report's picture Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize recreational cannabis. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor J.B. Pritzker who campaigned in 2018 on a platform that included legalization. His signature will make Illinois the 11th US state to legalize, and the second (after Vermont) to do so by an act of the legislature. (Capitol News Illinois)
Comment by Global Ganja Report on Jun 6th, 2019 at 2:31 pm

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