Illinois House votes for Medical Marijuana in School

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on May 20, 2018.

The Illinois Senators this week overwhelmingly voted to allow sick children to bring medical marijuana with them to school

According to Chicago Tribune, the bill was passed in the House 50-2 and has been sent to Governor Bruce Rauner for a decision on its fate. He has now has 60 days to act on the bill.

As per the new bill, the students who qualify for medical marijuana can consume it on school premises, as long as they don’t smoke it.  The school officials would have to ensure marijuana's usage wouldn’t disrupt other students.

If the bill gets Rauner’s nod, will turn the schools into “drug-free zones” and allow parents, guardians or caregivers to administer drops or oils to the sick children at school.

The measure, called Ashley’s Law, has been named after 12-year-old Ashley Surin of Schaumburg.  The bill has been named after her as she takes medical marijuana to treat the epilepsy she developed during chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.

Ashley’s parents, who were in the Senate chambers for the vote Thursday, say the measure will benefit many more children who use medical marijuana to treat serious illnesses like Ashley.

“We feel like we’re watching a miracle happen,” Ashley’s mother, Maureen Surin, said. “She thinks better, she talks better. She used to do one- and two-word sentences. Now she speaks in run-on sentences. Her life has been given back to her.”

After Ashley’s parents sued in federal court for the right to give her medical marijuana at her school, Hanover Highlands Elementary School in Hanover Park, officials from Schaumburg School District 54 and the Illinois Attorney General’s office, had in January, agreed to let Ashley store the drug in the school nurse’s office. Besides she was permitted to put on the lotion at school. However, a change in state law would be needed to let other children do so.

Current Illinois law, effected in 2014, allows children under 18 to take medical marijuana if two doctors certify that they have a medical condition that qualifies. But the new proposal would change current law, which prohibits possessing marijuana on school grounds.

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