Medical Marijuana Sponsor Hopeful For IL Senate OK

The chief sponsor of a bill that would legalize medical marijuana says he's hopeful it will pass in the Illinois Senate after winning approval in the Illinois House.

State Sen. Bill Haine said Wednesday that the bill (House Bill #1) is about ``reasonableness.'' The Alton Democrat says the state shouldn't prosecute people who use marijuana
to relieve themselves from pain.

House lawmakers approved the plan Wednesday on a vote of 61-57.

Among east-central Illinois legislators, Democrat Naomi Jakobsson voted for the measure. But Republicans Dan Brady, Adam Brown, Joshua Harms, Chad Hays and Bill Mitchell voted against it.

The measure allows physicians to prescribe up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana to patients with specific medical
conditions, including serious illnesses.

Haine says he hopes the bill will come up for a vote in the Senate before it recesses at the end of May.

The Senate approved a bill authorizing medical marijuana in 2009. But it failed in the House.

(Additional reporting by Jim Meadows, Illinois Public Media)