Medical marijuana passed through the House and is now going forward to the full Senate for consideration.
According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the measure was approved on Wednesday, May 8 by the Senate Executive Committee.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he needs to look into it further, but said he is keeping an open mind to legalizing medical marijuana.
Law enforcement officials have raised concerns about the bill not preventing medical marijuana users from driving while under the influence. They said that legislation should include blood and urine testing to allow police the ability to determine whether or not a card holder had marijuana in their system while driving.
Those who support the proposal argue that laws are in place to prosecute drivers under the influence of marijuana. They do, however, note that there is no standard to determine a driver’s impairment.
The bill would allow doctors to prescribe up to 2.5- ounces to a patient every two weeks.