Medical Marijuana Vote Delayed Again By Illinois Senate

Supporters of a much-delayed Illinois Senate bill to legalize medical marijuana will have to wait at least another day, as the vote scheduled for Tuesday has again been postponed.

As the Illinois legislative session enters its final days, big-ticket topics such as the budget and ethics reform loom large, and time for taking up a controversial bill like SB 1381, The Compassionate Use of Cannabis Pilot Project Act, gets harder to find. Even if the bill passes the Senate, its chances of passing the House are slim -- and even slimmer for passing during this legislative session, the bill's sponsor, Sen. William R. Haine (D-Alton), told the Huffington Post.

Haine said he expects the tally to be close and needs to have all of his 'yes' votes present before he'll call a vote. A Haine aide said that several of the likely 'yes' votes were absent from the chamber Tuesday.

Haine looked for an opportunity all last week and at one point entered the Senate chamber determined to call a vote but never got the chance.

Though Senate President John Cullerton supports the legislation, he is focused on ethics reform and the state budget and not actively drumming up support for the bill, his spokeswoman told the Huffington Post.

Comments

[ebroadcast]

Nice to see that they take someone's suffering so seriously

[Edward Heller]

Another delay?
Are they waiting for the brownies to kick in?

[themodernleader]

If we are to legalize "medical marijuana" we must place draconian taxes on it while controlling its source. In politics under weak leaders decisions are oblique and ragged towards an overarching objective.

[Dave Scott]

on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/

[DSOTM]

Lord knows we wouldn't want to interfere with all the good political system of Illinois.

[slarabee]

With the way the rules are implemented etc... I am surprised that politicians accomplish anything.