Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Use Medical Marijuana Against Opioid Addiction

The legislation would amend the medical marijuana program to allow those prescribed opioids to use cannabis instead.

Illinois State House Adobe Stock Credit Henryk Sadura Resized

April 27, 2018

SPRINGFIELD —A bill that would combat opioid addiction with medical marijuana easily passed the Illinois Senate Thursday.

Senate Bill 336, which sailed through on a 44-6 bipartisan vote, would amend the medical marijuana program to allow those prescribed opioids to use cannabis instead, the idea being to provide a safe alternative to highly addictive and sometimes deadly opioids.

RELATED: Illinois Senate Committee Passes Bill Extending Medical Marijuana to Opioid Users

The bill now heads to the House.

Under the language of the bill, patients would be entitled to buy medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries for the length they were prescribed opioids by their physician. Patients would also be eligible to apply for a medical marijuana card.

Top Image: © Henryk Sadura | Adobe Stock

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