side note: You can also write a letter, but whatever you decide to do, do it and tell your friends and family.

We need 60 votes for medical marijuana in the Illinois House of Representatives. Illinois’ seriously ill patients need your help to make sure your representative is one of them.

In May, the Senate passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. The legislature recessed four days later and the House has not yet voted on the bill.

On October 14, the Illinois House met for a veto session, giving MPP’s local lobbyists a chance to talk to representatives about protecting patients. It’s vital that constituents let their representatives know that passing a medical marijuana bill in Illinois is the right thing to do.

Please send your representative an e-mail urging him or her to protect patients by voting “yes” on SB 1381 when the time comes. The measure could be brought to the House floor for a vote sometime after the legislature reconvenes for the second half of the 2009-2010 session in January.

Though polls show that 68% of Illinois citizens support medical marijuana, many representatives still believe it is controversial. It is up to us to show them otherwise.

After you’ve written your representative, please follow up with a call.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and all of our allies. Please subscribe to our free legislative alert service to help make this the last year Illinois threatens the sick and dying with arrest.