The Illinois Senate Wednesday approved SB 1381, which would allow seriously ill patients with certain debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana with a physician's recommendation. The measure passed by a margin of 30-28 with bipartisan support. The Senate defeated a similar measure last year.

[inline:illinoisstatehouse.jpg align=right caption="Illinois State House"]Attention now moves to the House, where a companion bill, HB 2514, passed one committee in March. But it is expected that the House will take up the Senate version for debate.

The spring portion of the Illinois legislative session ends after this week, and it is unlikely the House will act before that. But the legislature reconvenes in the fall.

"I'm very proud of my fellow senators for recognizing modern scientific research, listening to reason, and passing this very sensible bill," said sponsor Sen. William Haine (D-Alton), a four-term former states attorney. "This bill has been amended several times to address the concerns of law enforcement, and the version we're sending to the House would likely be the most strictly controlled medical marijuana law in the country."

Those amendments tightened requirements to participate in the program, lowered the quantities of marijuana allowed, and strengthened the role of the state police in oversight of the program.

"I've been pleading with our legislators to enact this law for five years now," said Julie Falco, a Chicago resident who has lived with multiple sclerosis for over 20 years. "This medicine not only helps me control my muscle spasms and pain, it has also allowed me to discontinue using virtually all pharmaceutical medications, most of which had horrible side effects. I don't just support this bill; I desperately need it to become law."

Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), sponsor of the House version of the medical marijuana bill, said he hopes that the recent Senate victory will give his wavering colleagues in the House enough political cover to send this legislation to the governor for signature. "Opposition to this bill is dwindling because all legitimate concerns have been addressed," Lang said. "I think that there is a true desire in the General Assembly to pass this bill for the patients who need it and I'm confident that my colleagues in the House will give this issue the attention it deserves."

The Marijuana Policy Project and the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative have both been active in pushing the Illinois bill.

Update: The measure passed the House Health and Human Services Committee unexpectedly quickly Thursday afternoon, increasing the likelihood of a House floor vote before the session ends Sunday.