House rejects medical marijuana bill

SPRINGFIELD -- Hopes for legalizing medicinal marijuana in Illinois were snuffed out Thursday.

Senate Bill 1381 failed in the Illinois House by a vote of 56 yes, 60 no. The legislation would have given patients with chronic conditions, such as cancer, glaucoma or multiple sclerosis, the right to possess up to two ounces of marijuana for their own use.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, had previously said he had enough votes to pass the bill, if all his supporters showed up.

Opponents of the measure expressed worries that the state would have problems regulating the drug and that it would lead to abuse, especially among Illinois' youth.

"This (proposal) isn't about medical marijuana, it's just about the easing of the ability of people to obtain it, and if you look at other states who've done that, that's just what happened," said Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg.

Lang said he plans to reintroduce the bill in the next legislative session.

"I'm going to continue to press on on this particular piece of legislation until I pass it. Next year, the year after - I'm a young man, I'll be here a while," said Lang, 61.

Andy Brownfield can be reached at (27) 782-3095.