Illinois Lawmakers OK Medical Marijuana At Schools

HANOVER PARK, IL — A measure allowing parents to give their children medical marijuana while at school has been approved by the Illinois General Assembly. Peoria Public Radio says the bill, HB4870, came about when an 11-year-old Hanover Park student who suffers from severe epilepsy wasn't allowed to use doctor-prescribed cannabis oil patches at school due to marijuana not being allowed on grounds.

Ashley Surin's parents call the patches a "golden cure," and therefore suggested the measure that would get rid of that ban for kids like their child, Peoria Public Radio says.

Illinois lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum are supporting the measure, which would only allow kids to have smoke-free products while at school, and their parents or guardians would have to give dispense the drug in private.

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The bill passed the house Thursday with a 50-2 vote in the Senate, with Sens. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) voting no. The House passed it 99-1, with Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill) voting no, in April. It goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner next.

The measure comes nearly four months after Patch reported that a Hanover Highlands Elementary School sixth grader was granted approval by a judge and the state attorney general's office to use medical marijuana prescribed to treat her seizures while on school grounds.

Illinois is one of 29 states that allows medical marijuana for treating patients with qualifying conditions.

More: peoriapublicradio.org

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