Hearings Continue On Illinois Medical Marijuana Rules

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network

The proposed rules for the state’s medical marijuana are getting a mixed response at a public hearing Monday.

At the first of two hearings on the rules in Chicago, several speakers, such as Dr. Greg Kuhlman of Crystal Lake, criticized the Illinois Department of Public Health for taking this long to implement the program.

“By the time the individuals start to grow so that we can distribute, it’s probably gonna be over a year and a half to two years,” Kuhlman said. “I can’t see it anything less than that. We have a lot of patients out there that suffer.”

Other common complaints were rules preventing patients from growing their own marijuana, as well as the fees associated with the program.

But Ali Nagib, the assistant director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law’s Illinois chapter, says some people are fighting old battles. “A lot of what people have criticized about this program is a result of what was written into the law and not specifically what was put into the rules by (the Illinois Department of Public Health),” Nagib said.

Another hearing will be held in Springfield on May 21.