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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

Medical marijuana bill debated in House

Imagine a DePaul student, anxious and biting nails, while sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. The student is contemplating whether the doctor will prescribe medical marijuana for pain associated with gluten intolerance, a questionable condition.

Suddenly, the doctor’s door opens and the nurse summons the student to enter. With beady red eyes glazed over, they walk down a hallway and into an exam room. The student’s stomach is rumbling in need of a fresh bag of Goldfish or Cheetos. After explaining symptoms, the doctor conducts the exam and then writes a prescription for marijuana to treat the pain.

In two weeks in Illinois, this scenario could go from being a stoner’s dream into reality.

 The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, a proposed bill to legalize medical marijuana, passed March 24 in the Illinois House of Representatives. The chamber voted 61-57 to allow the possibility of medical marijuana to be sold to legitimate medical patients all across the state. On May 8, the Senate Executive Committee voted 10-5 to send the proposal to the full senate.

The bill’s next stop will be the Senate and if it passes, it would make Illinois the 19th state in the country to permit citizens to purchase medical marijuana.

The chief sponsor of the bill is Skokie Representative Lou Lang, who addressed members of the House of Representatives by saying, “This bill is the most controlled and highly regulated bill ever drafted and ever written in the United States of America.”

DePaul senior Maureen Penland believes legalizing medical marijuana could have positive effects on the state of Illinois. “It’s a pretty sustainable idea,” said Penland. “We see clearly in Colorado that it’s working well for people’s health benefits and for economic reasons.”

The proposed bill claims it would create a four-year pilot program that will require a special ID card for patients with a serious illness, allowing them to buy up to two-and-a-half ounces of weed.

Jeremy, a DePaul student who wishes to remain anonymous, said that he hopes it will become legal to help with his medical condition. “I suffer from high anxiety and the only cure for my problem is a fat rip off my Roar bong,” said Jeremy. 

Jeremy believes that making medical marijuana legal would help students like him improve their academic performances. “After I smoke a bowl, I become really creative and I do some of my best work,” said Jeremy. “It definitely helps me improve my focus, like Adderall does for some students.”

But other Illinois figures haven’t decided on their positions yet. Gov. Quinn says that he’s “open minded” about the issue.

Since medical facilities are only state approved, federal agencies like the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) can still swoop in and raid a marijuana production facility or store if the owner is breaking the law by selling to recreational users.

The Chicago division of the DEA did not respond to The DePaulia’s request for comment as of press time. In 2011, the Division released “The DEA position on Marijuana,” a document that stated “At present, however, the clear weight of the evidence is that smoked marijuana is harmful. No matter what medical condition has been studied, other drugs already approved by the FDA have been proven to be safer than smoked marijuana.”

Jennifer Lynn, a DePaul student under an assumed name, believes that medical marijuana would become subject to abuse. “Despite all of the careful measure that will be put in place, eventually people will exploit the system just to get their hands on weed for the sake of getting high,” said Lynn.

“I think that the real reason why so many lawmakers and citizens want it legalized so they can avoid getting in trouble for smoking. But at the end of the day, it’s not really medicine but an illegal drug.”

With the bill making it to the senate floor in the coming weeks, many law enforcement agencies are requesting reform to allow officers to test blood and urine of motorists suspected of the driving under the influence of the narcotic.

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