Is Medical Marijuana Coming to Illinois? Bill Passes Senate Committee

A bill that has already passed the Illinois House could pave the way for limited prescriptions of pot.

By Steven Jack Illinois lawmakers may be poised to enact one of the toughest medical marijuana laws in the nation after a Senate Committee moved a bill Wednesday allowing those with a limited list of illness to obtain a prescription for the drug. The bill has passed the Illinois House and Gov. Pat Quinn has said he is open to the proposal,reported the Chicago Tribune. The Senate Committee voted 10-5 even after law enforcement officials objected on the grounds that the bill does not include provisions for driving under the influence of marijuana, the Trib reported. The law would allow patients to obtain 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. Sixty pot dispensaries would be set up throughout the state. The bill is sponsored by former State…

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Butch

3:34 pm on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Anthony are u fried already on some kinda Kool Aid? I said I was born there in a hospital In Ever PK-LIL Company, are u a outta towner or a tribal competitor? Nah can't be! he's on ?? I know elderly folks that this treatment has helped for glaucoma and related optic disorders.   more ›

State House Passes Medical Marijuana Bill, Quinn ‘Open-minded’

The state Senate will now review a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for qualified patients in Illinois.

Medical marijuana is closer to becoming a reality in Illinois than ever before after the bill squeezed by the House of Representatives in a 61-57 vote on Wednesday. Both Homewood Rep. Will Davis and Flossmoor Rep. Anthony DeLuca voted yes on the bill. Check out how the rest of the House voted The Senate, which already approved a less restrictive marijuana bill in 2009, will now consider the bill. Should it pass, Governor Pat Quinn has already indicated his support of the bill, telling the Chicago Tribune he is “open-minded” about it.  Get in on the conversation. Join H-F Patch today.

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Patch on Politics

Guns in Public Places: Where Do You Stand?

On Feb. 19 and Feb. 22, the state will stage public hearings to discuss a new concealed carry handgun law for Illinois.

Gun control hearings will convene before an Illinois House committee later this month, says Speaker Mike Madigan, and there will be much talk about a new concealed carry law. One hearing will take place in Chicago on Feb. 22, at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. The other will be in Springfield on Feb. 19 at the Capitol. “In light of events in recent months in Illinois and in other parts of the country, it’s appropriate and necessary that we give a full vetting to proposed state legislation on this matter," reads a statement from Madigan. "These hearings will provide an opportunity for gun-safety advocates, gun-rights supporters and members of the law enforcement community to offer their views and argue their cases to …

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Patch on Politics

One Republican Thinks You're Getting a 'Free Ride' on Your Income Taxes

Jim Edgar tells Reboot Illinois that tax hikes, program cuts and leadership are desperately needed in Springfield. And Pat Quinn brings you Squeezy the Python.

With Democrats now holding a supermajority in the Illinois House and Senate as well as the governor's office, one might suppose a Democratic agenda would be a slam dunk in Springfield. As recent years have shown, however, single-party control doesn't guarantee the wheels of government grind smoothly. And former Gov. Jim Edgar, who served from 1991 to 1999, suggests that probably won't change anytime soon. In a wide-ranging interview with the new website Reboot Illinois, Edgar says Springfield is less dysfunctional when the two parties share power. "More times than not I think split government works pretty well. The reason is to make the tough decisions you need both parties. It’s hard to get one party to put up all the votes and take all …

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Fed Up

2:45 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012

What REAL world are your talking about? Like time of welfare? We all chose our professions and planed accordingly. Now we should change the rules? Here's a start NO FOOD STAMPS aka:LINK cards, NO UNEMPLOYMENT, NO WELFARE, NO SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, you the picture. No my pension in not controlled by the state, but to say get rid of all pensions now. I would agree to that if I had not been investing …   more ›

Back to School

Despite Concerns, School Officials Believe Start of School Year Won't be Impacted by Cuts to Regional Office

After Gov. Pat Quinn eliminated $11 million from the state's budget, regional superintendents, including Will County's Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, are left without pay and unanswered questions about the future of the position.

Regional education superintendents such as Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant in Will County haven't been paid for their work since July 1, and as the start of the school year approaches there are mixed opinions on what the effect of that will be. Earlier this year, Gov. Pat Quinn cut $11 million dollars from the state's budget that was intended to pay the salaries of the 44 regional superintendents in the state. Robert Daiber, president of the Association of Regional Superintendents, said the cuts could greatly affect the upcoming school year and employment of all of the regional superintendents in the state. “Time is of the essence," he said. "We are on the verge of possibly a crisis situation, in which we may have people that are resigning these …

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Despite Supt. Salary Cut, Regional Education Office Will Continue Operating

Gov. Pat Quinn cut $9 million from regional education superintendent's salaries last week, leaving the Will County office, based in New Lenox, with an uncertain future.

Although Gov. Pat Quinn eliminated state money for salaries for regional superintendents of education, the Will County office in New Lenox will remain open past this week. According to the Associated Press, Quinn cut $9.1 million for salaries last week, including $2.2 million from the operations budgets. Even though their salaries have been eliminated, the 44 state superintendents' positions have not. The regional superintendent's duties include employee background checks and teacher certification. Will County superintendent Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant said that she'll be meeting with county executive Larry Walsh after this week to determine a future for the office and her role. In a news release, Bertino-Tarrant said the county office will …

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Governor Touts Redevelopment in Southland, Signs Recovery Bills

Gov. Pat Quinn said Monday the south suburbs would benefit greatly from his economic development efforts.

Gov. Pat Quinn made a trip to the Southland on Monday to boost local redevelopment efforts, signing two bills in Tinley Park proponents say will make it easier for south suburban towns to fund their economic plans. The first of the two bills Quinn signed at the Southland Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting at the Tinley Park Convention Center will make it easier for municipalities across the state to appropriate funds for economic development. The second bill will extend the deadline for Markham to finalize a special taxing district. Quinn signed the bills after a 30-minute talk to a packed house at the monthly meeting of the Southland Chamber, a group that promotes the south suburbs' economic interests. During his remarks, Quinn touched …

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Steve Burke

11:59 am on Thursday, July 21, 2011

A third airport would create nothing more stupidly spent taxpayer money that the state is wasting by buying property.   more ›