Illinois medical marijuana bill snuffed out
BY DAVE MCKINNEY Springfield Bureau Chief May 5, 2011 2:12PM
The Illinois House Thursday rejected a three-year pilot program to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana by a 53-61 vote. Sixty votes were needed to pass the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and had support from House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego).
“I’m pleading with you to consider this is a three-year pilot program to give sick people in our state a better way of living. And if we’re not here to do that, we ought to consider why wer’e here in the first place,” said Lang, shortly before the bill failed.
After the vote, Lang kept the measure alive through a parliamentary maneuver for another potential vote later.
