LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR CERTAIN ILLNESSES

Reasonable people see a difference between using marijuana to treat
the symptoms of a serious illness and passing out joints on a
playground. Yet both acts, under current law, are criminal.

State lawmakers can fix that by passing a pending bill, which in
previous years has been shot down, that would legalize the medical
use of marijuana by people with cancer, HIV, Crohn's disease and
several other illnesses.

Fifteen other states and the District of Columbia have legalized
medical marijuana, which has been shown to reduce the nausea and
vomiting that are typical side effects of anti-cancer drugs. It also
is effective in improving the appetite of AIDS patients, treating the
pain of multiple sclerosis and treating the pressure within the eye
caused by glaucoma.

A measure before the Illinois House would allow people with specific
medical conditions to purchase marijuana from not-for-profit
dispensaries, so long as they have proof of medical need from their
doctor. A database would be set up to make sure patients don't buy
more than 2.5 ounces every 14 days. And the law would expire, if not
renewed, in three years.

Lawmakers should not fear that supporting this bill will make them
look soft on crime.

A national poll conducted last year by the Washington Post and ABC
News found that 81 percent of Americans favor legalizing medical marijuana.

Will there be abuses? Of course. The same can be said of legal
prescription painkillers, whose misuse can be far more dangerous. But
the multiple safeguards written into this carefully crafted bill
should keep the unintended consequences to a minimum while finally
giving to people in great physical pain the relief they need.