IL House Votes to Legalize Marijuana for Medicinal Use

The Illinois House just voted to legalize marijuana for medical use.

The 61-57 vote for a four-year pilot program was a hurdle for legalization. Illinois will become the 19th state to legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Proponents say it will probably be the most restrictive medical marijuana program in the country, with specific conditions for qualifying illnesses, physician approvals, and cultivation of the marijuana.

Patients will have to purchase their medical marijuana a dispensary. There will be 60 dispensaries throughout the state. Patients will not be allowed to grow their own marijuana. Dispensary employees will undergo criminal background checks, and dispensaries will tightly monitor sales and security.

Illinois medical marijuana will be grown inside 22 cultivation centers that are registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.