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Thank you for contacting me regarding medical marijuana legislation. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns, because they help me to better represent our area. Senate Bill 1381, and a similar bill, House Bill 2514, would allow medical marijuana in Illinois to relieve the pain and suffering of seriously ill patients. I appreciate your letter and the debates that occurred in Springfield, because they gave background information on an issue with which I was not familiar. I believe that future debates on this topic will continue providing much-needed information. You reference the Illinois Nurses Association’s statements in support of “safe access to therapeutic cannabis under appropriate prescriber supervision.†I did not receive information that they supported Senate Bill 1381, so I would be interested in any more information you might have on their position of support. Some major concerns that arose out of the debate this year included the issue of separating the seriously ill patients who would legally be allowed to use the drug, and any non-medical, recreational use of marijuana. Family advocates and law enforcement authorities are concerned that it is not enough to merely “discourage†recreational use. Obviously, seriously ill patients would not be able to grow, contain and safeguard the plants and drug. This proposal would allow a designated person to grow and possess the plant on behalf of the lawfully-prescribed user. Additionally, there were debates regarding the quantities and forms of the plant and drug that could be possessed or grown, and there seems to be little consensus on safe and consistent amounts. My position has been that I would only support the use of FDA approved prescription drugs as prescribed by a physician. Again, I appreciate that you have taken the time to give me more information on this issue. I have a strong record of working to make sure that more Illinoisans have access to safe, affordable, effective health care, and I believe it is important that we focus on providing care to those in need. I will keep your concerns and information in mind during this upcoming legislative session, should this bill come before me for a vote. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (217) 428-2708. Sincerely, Robert F. Flider State Representative 101st District
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