Illinois House Committee Approves Medical Marijuana

An Illinois House committee approved a bill on Wednesday to allow the use of medical marijuana.

The measure would allow patients over the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with specific terminal illnesses or debilitating medical conditions to obtain marijuana. State Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D-Urbana) voted in favor of it.

“This is a really strong bill," Jakobsson said. "First of all, this medical marijuana would be for the severely ill. It wouldn’t be just available to anybody, and it would actually be the medical records from the patient’s doctor that would be sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health to get approval before being able to receive medical marijuana.”

Supporters say medical marijuana relieves pain without triggering harmful effects caused by prescription drugs, but critics say it encourages recreational drug use.

The House Human Services Committee voted 11-4 to move the proposal to the full House.