By Noelle Skodzinski
Gov. Bruce RaunerGov. Bruce Rauner
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has "issued a broad rejection of expanding the list of diseases that can be treated with medical marijuana in Illinois," according to a report in Illinois media outlet RiverBender.com. The governor's veto of a bill that would have added post-traumatic stress disorder, osteoarthritis and migraines (as well as 8 additional conditions) to the list of diseases and ailments eligible for medical marijuana treatment options continues what The Chicago Tribune calls "his chilly reception of the medical marijuana program he inherited."
The rejection was despite "the recommendations of an expert advisory board appointed by Rauner's predecessor, Pat Quinn," reported RiverBender.com.
The Republican governor "said the medical marijuana test program is still in its early stages and it would be premature to expand the scope 'before we have had the chance to evaluate it,'" according to The Chicago Tribune.
The state's medical marijuana program was launched last year under former Gov. Pat Quinn, and the transition in state leadership didn't help the program get off to a successful start. "Cultivation centers are just now growing crops and the first dispensary was licensed in August. Patients are not expected to have access to medical marijuana until late this year or early next year," reports The Tribune.
"Adding conditions would have expanded the potential base of patients," reports Crain's Chicago Business. "So far, only 3,000 Illinois patients have been approved to use marijuana for conditions listed in the original law such as cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis."
