McHenry County Blog

The roll call shows three of four McHenry County State Representatives voted for Lou Lang’s House Bill 1.

They are Jack Franks, Mike Tryon and Barbara Wheeler.

Tim Schmitz, who represents the smallest part of McHenry County (near Huntley), and David McSweeney voted against the measure.

The vote was 61-57.  Sixty votes were required for passage.  If passed by the Senate and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, it would take effect on January 1, 2014,

Roll call for House Bill 1, the medical marijuana bill.

The bill has 211 pages. You may read it here.

Up popped an email from State Rep. Mike Tryon tonight.  Take a read and then take his poll:

Mike Tryon

Dear Friend,

I am hoping you will take a few minutes to participate in a survey, so I can better represent you in Springfield.

To date, 14 states have enacted laws that allow for the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Legislation is pending in the Illinois House (House Bill 30) right now that would create a three-year pilot program for the compassionate use of medical cannabis (marijuana).

The bill would provide that when a person has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition, and after a second opinion has been received that is in concurrence, the person and the person’s primary caregiver may be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health.

The card would allow the ill individual to possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis during any 14-day period for use to alleviate the patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms associating with the debilitating medical condition.

Whereas some states that allow the medical use of canabis have loose requirements for who may use it, the Illinois bill provides strict restrictions for who may be considered a viable candidate for using medical canabis.

The following medical conditions are included in the list of debilitating conditions in HB 30:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• Hepatitis C
• Multiple sclerosis
• Crohn’s disease
• The Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease

The bill includes a provision that would allow for the possession of a greater amount if the physicians deem that a greater amount would be needed to alleviate the condition or symptoms.

The Department of Public Health would serve as the enforcement and regulatory agency, and distribution of the medical cannabis would be limited to non-profit medical cannabis organizations (MCO), which would be registered with the State and limited to one MCO per Illinois Senate District (maximum of 59 distributors in Illinois).

Users of medical cannabis would not be allowed to drive a vehicle within six hours of using medical cannabis.

The Department of Public Health would have to submit a report annually to the General Assembly that would disclose the number of patients who utilized medical cannabis, the number of patients who applied for renewals for identification cards, the nature of the conditions that led to the issuance of cards and the number of registered nonprofit MCOs.

The following organizations have stated their support for HB30:

• Marijuana Policy Project
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago
• Illinois Nurses Association
• Protestants for the Common Good
• ACLU of Illinois
• National Association to Reform Marijuana Laws

The following organizations have stated their opposition to HB30:

• Chiefs of Police
• Illinois Sheriff’s Association
• Illinois Family Institute
• Illinois Police Association
• Concerned Christian Americans
• Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association
• Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems

Again, I hope you will participate in the survey. I will compile this data early next week, so your prompt participation is appreciated. By clicking on the link below, you will enter the survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QDKNQSV

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
State Representative – District 64

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Optometrist State Rep. Joe Ebbesen (R-DeKalb) passed a bill to allow the use of marijuana to treat glaucoma in the 1970′s.

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Unlike most polls, one cannot discover the results after voting.

This is toward the end of the roll call, which was captured by Capitol Fax. Unless you count the green votes and find 56, however, it may or may not be the final roll call.

If you have the patience compare the votes on the board with the following official roll call:

The official roll call for Senate Bill 1381, which would have legalized medical marijuana.

The bill was voted upon again and only 56 of the 60 needed votes were cast.

The three state representative representing McHenry County—Mike Tryon, Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien–voted against the bill.

Here’s the roll call on SB 1381, the legislation that would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes:

Click to enlarge the image.

Locally, both State Senators Pam Althoff and Dan Duffy were on the negative side of the question.

Here’s what the Legislative Digest says about the bill:

Synopsis As Introduced

Creates the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.

Provides that when a person has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition, the person and the person’s primary caregiver may be issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health that permits the person or the person’s primary caregiver to legally possess no more than 7 dried cannabis plants and 2 ounces of dried usable cannabis.

Amends the Cannabis Control Act to make conforming changes.

Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable.

Provides that the Act is repealed 3 years after its effective date. Repeals the research provisions of the Cannabis Control Act. Effective immediately.

Senate Amendment No. 5

Limits the maximum amount of cannabis plants that a qualified patient may possess during a 60-day period to 6 cannabis plants, no more than 3 of which can be mature cannabis plants (rather than 7 plants).

Changes definition of “debilitating condition”. Changes references from “practitioner” to”physician”.

Provides that the Department of Public Health shall develop and disseminate educational information about the health risks associated with the abuse of cannabis and prescription medications, which shall be funded by the $3 fees generated from registry identification cards.

Provides that not later than 120 days after the effective date of this Act, the Department shall promulgate rules governing the manner in which it shall consider applications for and renewals of registration certificates for medical cannabis organizations, including rules governing the form and content of registration and renewal applications, and a standard form for written certifications.

Provides that by July 1, 2010, the Department shall adopt rules defining the quantity of cannabis that could reasonably be presumed to be a 60-day supply for qualifying patients.

Provides that medical cannabis organizations are subject to random inspections rather than reasonable inspections.

Provides that for purposes of Illinois State law, the consumption or use of cannabis by a registered qualifying patient shall be considered lawful if it is authorized by and in accordance with the Act.

Provides that the Act does not:

(i)allow the use of cannabis if that person does not have a serious or debilitating medical condition;

(ii) allow any person who is not allowed to use cannabis under the Act to use cannabis that a cardholder is allowed to possess pursuant to the Act,

iii) transfer cannabis to any person who is not allowed to possess cannabis under the Act. Further amends the Cannabis Control Act.

Provides that any registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver who distributes cannabis to someone who is not allowed to use cannabis is subject to a penalty enhancement of not more than 2 years in prison or a fine of not more than $2,000, or both, for abuse of the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.