The legalization of marijuana is a topic of popular conversation these days. And it isn’t just a conversation between friends; it has become a matter of discussion and more lenient legislation within various parts of the country. Soon, Illinois will likely have its own medical marijuana laws on the books.
Lawmakers and health officials in the state are working on creating the medical marijuana laws that they think would best serve patients and community safety. They’re drafting pages and pages of possible components of the possible drug laws of the future.
The following are just a few of the more controversial points that regulators have in mind:
- Patients with drug-related felonies on their records will not be eligible to use medical marijuana.
- Patients who seek and receive medical marijuana in Illinois will be unable to own a firearm.
- Patients will need a special ID card to get medical marijuana, a card that might cost a reported $150 every year.
As other states’ efforts regarding medical marijuana have shown, marijuana legalization is complicated at all points in the process. There are not only laws related to the patients, but there are dispensary and growing laws, too. Because of the complex but also important nature of this sort of drug legislation, Illinois officials are drafting the possible drug law changes carefully and early. They want public commentary as well as insight from health professionals before making any parts of the law final.
Legal changes can be good, but they can also create confusion and a high risk of drug arrests. Someone who becomes a target of a marijuana possession or distribution charge in Illinois shouldn’t hesitate to work with a drug crime lawyer who is up-to-date on the laws and can help mitigate the severity of a drug arrest.
Source: Daily Chronicle, “Illinois medical marijuana rules unveiled,” Carla K. Johnson, Jan. 21, 2014