Medical marijuana advocates roll out TV campaign

Medical marijuana advocates are turning to the airwaves for a breakthrough in Illinois. Clearing the political haze surrounding the issue will take more work.

The Marijuana Policy Project rolled out two television advertisements Tuesday featuring clandestine cannabis users urging support for Sen. William Haine's medical marijuana measure, Senate Bill 1381.

Haine's measure was slated to be debated in a Senate committee the same day the commercials came out. But due to last-minute changes, Haine said the measure wouldn't come up for another week.

"We have amended the bill several times to meet the concerns of law enforcement and others who object," said Haine, an Alton Democrat.

Some of those changes include making medical marijuana a three-year pilot program and removing the ability of medical marijuana patients to drive while under the influence.

Despite the concessions, getting medical marijuana through the Senate might not be enough.

Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, said Haine's proposal lacks the necessary support in the House to pass because of the possible political fallout some lawmakers foresee for backing it. Lang sponsored a similar measure in the Illinois House that is all but dead.

"If we were to take a vote today in the House, this bill would not pass," Lang said at a Statehouse news conference. However, if Haine's measure makes it out of the Senate, Lang hopes "those who perhaps had been fearful of voting for this bill will find some cover, political cover."

Lang encouraged legislators to pass SB 1381 so people like Lucie Macfarlane can find relief from their chronic illnesses.

Macfarlane suffers from neurofibromatosis and is one of the people featured in the new ads.

"I am not a criminal, I am sick. Cannabis helps me survive," the 45-year-old Macfarlane says in one ad.

Opponents fear the potential for abuse by marijuana growers and distributors outweigh the medical potential of the plant.

"This would provide (drug) cartels and gangs great cover for expanding their business," said Judy Kreamer, president of Education Voices, an anti-drug lobby.

Kreamer said she is also worried that medical marijuana would increase use of the drug among the youth because calling it a medicine legitimizes its use to a certain extent.

Lang says Kreamer's view is the opposite of what he and Haine are trying to cultivate.

"This is not a bill about drugs, this is a bill about health care," Lang said.

Andrew Thomason can be reached at (217) 782-6882 or andrew.thomason@sj-r.com .