CLERGY PUSH TO OK MEDICAL POT

Illinois' latest attempt to legalize medical marijuana is getting
support from a surprising source-religious leaders.

"The moral issue is relief of suffering," said the Rev. D. Jay
Johnson of the Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield, Ill.

Johnson is one of more than 40 state religious leaders named in a
letter distributed to legislators as they consider changing Illinois
law to allow use of marijuana for treating pain and nausea in medical
patients. But opponents also are leaning on religious morality as a
central part of their argument. They say that the real purpose of the
movement is to legalize recreational pot, and that well-meaning
clergy are being duped. "I think they're using the compassion of
people who don't understand what the goal is," said Anita Bedell of
the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems, the group
leading the fight against the bill.

Legislation pending in the Senate would allow people diagnosed with
"debilitating" medical conditions to legally possess up to 12
cannabis plants and as much as 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has
passed committee and is awaiting a Senate floor vote.

Cullerton has acknowledged that its chances are still questionable
unless he can garner more support from his colleagues. He estimates
he has about 20 of the 30 votes needed for Senate passage.