Medical marijuana has now been available in Illinois for about 18 months. But many around the state, particularly in Southern Illinois, say they can't find a doctor in their area to help them. A few groups have found a way to change that — they're now bringing doctors directly to the patients with qualifying conditions. More than 30 hopeful patients registered for a recent clinic in Shelbyvlle, held by Medical Cannabis Outreach.
The second medical marijuana dispensary to open in Champaign County is now seeing its first customers. Nu Med is located at 105 East University in Urbana, the site of a former Blockbuster Video location. It joins Champaign-based Phoenix Botanical as the two dispensaries allowed by the state's pilot program in State Police District 10, which includes Champaign, Vermilion, and seven other Central Illinois counties.
In July, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a measure extending the state’s medical marijuana pilot program from January 2018 to July 2020. But as a condition, Illinois' Public Health Director now has sole discretion over adding more qualifying conditions, leaving no power to a re-constituted panel of experts. Chicago Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin recently wrote on current efforts to add them, relying largely on court rulings tied to a series of lawsuits.
On The 21st, we talked about the trauma and grief that families go through after losing a loved one to gun violence with a Danville father whose son was killed in a shooting ten years ago and a Chicago psychiatrist. Plus, we heard about the historical significance of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton spoke today. We also talked about financial exploitation of the elderly with the director of a law clinic begun to help those very people.
There's an agreement in place between Gov. Bruce Rauner to extend Illinois' medical marijuana pilot program. Legislation filed Friday would extend the program to July 2020, and add two more qualifying conditions - post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness. The measure still requires a vote by lawmakers.
