MED MARIJUANA BILL BOUND FOR SENATE FLOOR

A medical marijuana bill sponsored by State Sen. John Cullerton,
D-Chicago, has passed the Senate's Public Health Committee after
considering written and oral expert testimony from medical
professionals and patients, according to a release from the Marijuana
Policy Project.

Medical marijuana policy experts said they expect the bill, SB 650,
to go to the Senate floor for a full vote soon.

The bill would prevent seriously ill patients who use medical
marijuana with a doctor's recommendation from being arrested.
Currently, 12 states--including California, Rhode Island and New
Mexico ( which just passed a bill through the House and Senate,
according to mpp.org ) --have similar laws on the books, protecting
those who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C.