ILLINOIS CANNABIS PATIENTS ASSOCIATION

We are pleased to announce our medical cannabis lobbying days when we can have a table setup for lawmakers to meet with patients and medical cannabis supporters.

The February 18,2010 lobbying day went very well.  We were able to meet with and educate many Illinois State Representatives.  Senate Bill 1381 picked up another Co-Sponsor and the local news covered the event too.  Plus, simply our presence at the Capitol let the lawmakers in Springfield know that medical cannabis patients are everyday Americans and deserve safe and legal access to this medicine.

March 16 and April 20, 2010 are the next lobbying days and hopefully we can get even more patients, doctors, and advocates at the Capitol supporting Senate Bill 1381. The event will take place from 9AM-5PM on each day and we will be located on the first floor in the north hall.  It is crucial that our supporters are respectful and are there to educate and build relationships with the lawmakers not to hold a protest or become disruptive.  If you can attend one of these days please let us know that you will be joining us so that we can keep you up to date with the details, and if you cannot attend please be sure to call your State Representative on those days at 217-782-2000.  You can email your State Representative in support of medical cannabis in Illinois here.

On March 16, 2010 we will have a two tables setup in the north hall on the first floor of the Capitol Building in Springfield and will have patients there to meet with people.  We also plan to have folks going to State Representatives’ offices in the Stratton Building, connected via an underground tunnel, giving them info on supporting medical cannabis in Illinois.  If you can attend please dress nice and act polite.  Plus, call your State Representative’s office ahead of time and let them know you will be at the Capitol for the day.

—— GREEN

– Rich Whitney: “I support legalization of marijuana, period.”

——-DEMOCRAT

– Pat Quinn: “People who are seriously ill deserve access to all medical treatments that will help them.”

—— REPUBLICANS

– Bill Brady: “Legalizing medical marijuana appears to me to be nothing more than moving us down the slope of legalizing marijuana.”

– Kirk Dillard: “I do not support legalizing medical marijuana due to the concerns of the law enforcement community that it will be difficult to enforce.”

—-LIBERTARIAN

-- Lex Green: "As Governor, I will sign legislation, if any, that legalizes cannabis."

The American Medical Association has changed its official position on medical cannabis.  The largest doctors organization in America is now calling for a review of cannabis as a schedule one substance.  Schedule one substances are reserved only for the most dangerous and addictive substances with no accepted medical use.  Currently, 14 states legally protects patients who use cannabis with their doctor’s recommendation.  Illinois is not one of them but hopefully lawmakers will see this as yet another indication that cannabis is a medicine and sick people are not criminals.

There are many ways that supporters of medical cannabis in Illinois can help protect patients in Illinois who use cannabis with the recommendation of their doctor.

• The best way is to lobby (email, phone calls, written letters & face to face visits) your State Representative and urge them to vote YES on Senate Bill 1381.  If they are supportive, ask them to cosponsor this legislation.  If they are a cosponsor ask them to write a letter to a local newspaper calling on their fellow lawmakers to pass this legislation.  Call 217-782-2000 and ask the operator to connect you to your State Representative’s office, then tell your State Rep. to “VOTE YES on Senate Bill 1381.” Please be polite and call their district office too.
• Write a letter to your local newspaper voicing your support for Senate Bill 1381.  Please keep these letters short (less than 300 words) and follow the guidelines that the newspaper lists for submitting letters to the editor.  Illinois Media Contacts
• Tell others to support the medical cannabis legislation like you have.
• Organize a town hall, public forum to discuss the medical cannabis legislation and invite your local legislators.
• Contact your county medical society or association and ask them to endorse the medical cannabis legislation.

On October 19, 2009 the Obama Administration formally issued guidelines directing federal authorities not to interfere with states that have passed medical cannabis programs.  Now that this is in writing, it further indicates that states can enact medical cannabis programs as they wish.  Illinois residents and legislators should see this as a clear message that the federal government will not interfere with those who follow the pending legislation, should it pass.  The only people the federal government will now target for arrest are those who are breaking the medical cannabis law of their state.

Published Letters:
[ READ HERE ]