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>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON
"AT ISSUE." I AM H. WAYNE
WILSON, AND TODAY WE WILL TALK
ABOUT A SPECIFIC PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WAS SIGNED BY
GOVERNOR QUINN LAST AUGUST--
I MEAN AUGUST OF 2013.
IT WAS A SIGNATURE THAT
IMPLEMENTED COMPASSIONATE USE OF
CANNABIS PILOT PROGRAM ACT.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH MEDICAL
CONDITIONS CAN ACTUALLY GET
CANNABIS TO TREAT THAT
CONDITION.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT IS
TAKING QUITE SOME TIME.
WE WILL FIND OUT WHY IT TAKES SO
LONG.
TO HELP US WITH THAT DISCUSSION,
WE HAVE DR.GERALD McSHANE.
DR.McSHANE IS THE C.E.O. OF
OSF MEDICAL GROUP.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>>THANK YOU, H.
>>ALSO JOINING IS DAVE LEITCH,
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
DAVE, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
PEORIA AND NORTH OF PEORIA ALSO.
DAVE, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.
>>THANK YOU, H.
>>LIZ SKINNER HAS JOINED US.
MAYOR IS TOWN OR CITY OF
DELEVAN.
>>CITY OF DELEVAN.
>>CITY OF DELEVAN, BIG TIME.
1700 OF BUT STILL CITY.
>>YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LIZ, FOR
JOINING US.
UH-HUH.
LET'S START WITH YOU, DOCTOR,
BECAUSE WE NEED A DEFINITION OF
CANNABIS.
>>CANNABIS TYPICALLY IS WHAT WE
CALL MARIJUANA TODAY, AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS ACT IS ABOUT.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, CANNABIS IS
MADE UP OF MULTIPLE CHEMICALS,
OF A FAMILY CALLED CANNABINOIDS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ACTIVE
INGREDIENTS THAT CREATE THE
EUPHORIA EFFECT IN USE OF
MARIJUANA RECREATIONALLY.
THE SPECIFIC EFFECTS
MEDICINALLY, MAY FALL IN THOSE
CHEMICALS THAT ARE THE MORE
POTENT ONES MAYBE BELIEVED TO BE
HELPFUL IN THE CONDITIONS WE
WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY.
OUR BODIES HAVE A CANNABINOID
SYSTEM, IN OUR BRAIN, NEURAL
SYSTEM HAS SET OF CELLS, NERVE
CELLS, AND MUCH OF OUR TISSUE
MUSCLE, WHITE CELLS, THERE ARE
LITTLE RECEPTORS THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY THESE CANNABINOIDS.
THERE IS A LOT KNOWN ABOUT THE
CANNABINDOIDS.
WE PRODUCE ENDOCANNABINOIDS,
SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU FIND IN A
PLANT OF MARIJUANA.
THAT IS THE BASE IS FOR-- IT IS
PHARMACOLOGICAL BASIS,
MEDICINALLY IT HAS BEEN USED FOR
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
IN FACT, BROUGHT OVER TO THE
UNITED STATES FROM INDIA IN
1840.
IT HAS BEEN USED IN 1930'S.
IT WAS TAXED.
IT WAS USED RECREATIONAL AND
MEDICINALLY IN THE 30S, PROBABLY
TO THE 70S.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE
HIPPIES AND YUPPIES OR THE
HIPPIES AT THAT TIME CREATED A
CLAMP DOWN OF THE USE OF
MARIJUANA.
IT IS A REPEATING CYCLE AS I
LOOK AT THE MARIJUANA
DISCUSSION.
LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND, WE
KNOW THAT MARIJUANA DOES TREAT
CERTAIN CONDITIONS AT LEAST, BUT
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
MIGHT BE SIDE EFFECTS?
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
FDA APPROVED PHARMACOLOGICALLY
MANUFACTURED CANNABINOIDS,
SEVERAL ARE NAUSEA FROM
CHEMOTHERAPY FROM CANCER. OTHER
CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO THAT ARE
USED.
THOSE ARE ON MARKET TODAY.
THEY ARE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED.
IT IS EXPENSIVE, AND IT IS NOT
USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN-- THE
CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN THIS
PLANT, 60 CHEMICALS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T KNOW
ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TESTED IN
TRIALS.
NORMALLY EQUATE WITH GOOD
PHARMACOLOGY.
THAT'S AN ISSUE HERE FOR
PHYSICIANS.
THEY DO NOT REALLY-- NO ONE
REALLY KNOWS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ANECDOTAL
EVIDENCE THAT IT HELPS IN
CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THERE ARE
VARIOUS GUIDELINES AND CONSENSUS
STATEMENTS FROM SAY NEUROLOGY
THAT INDICATE THAT IN CERTAIN
CONDITIONS, TREMOR, SPASTICITY
FROM MS, FROM MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS, IT DOES SHOW SOME
EFFECTIVENESS.
ALL OF THAT REALLY HAS NOT BEEN
PLAYED OUT YET MOSTLY BECAUSE IT
IS A CLASS ONE CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE, AND IT IS NOT ABLE TO
BE RESEARCHED ADEQUATELY.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE
UNITED STATES TODAY.
SO CLEARLY THE PATIENT CENTERED
APPROACH TO THIS, PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING.
THERE ARE CONDITIONS REALLY NO
GOOD ANSWERS FOR.
SOME PEOPLE VIEW THIS HELPS.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> IT IS A MEDICAL DISCUSSION.
HOW ABOUT LEGISLATIVE
DISCUSSION?
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT, IT IS
VERY UNFORTUNATE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ITSELF HAS BEEN THE
REASON WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF THE
EFFICACY OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS LARGELY TO BLAME FOR THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD
THROUGHOUT OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE
OF ITS UNWILLINGNESS TO STUDY
MARIJUANA, UNDERSTAND IT BETTER,
AND TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY
THAT DR.McSHANE JUST
REFERENCED.
>>SO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE AS
REASON WHY THE LEGISLATURE
DECIDED TO PASS A MEDICAL
CANNABIS BILL?
>> I THINK IT IS FOR THE REASONS
THAT THE DOCTOR IDENTIFIED.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN LOBBYING THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY WHO HAD BEEN SUFFERING
FROM EPILEPSY, NEEDED RELIEF
FROM CANCER PAIN.
I WAS ALWAYS AMUSED, THERE WAS A
SENIOR PARTNER AT JONES-DAY,
VERY PROMINENT LAW FIRM IN
CHICAGO (LAUGHING) WHO HAD KIND
OF A CROHN'S DISEASE VARIANT
THAT HE WAS ALWAYS EMBARRASSED
AND WORRIED THAT HE WOULD GET
CAUGHT OUT ON THE STREETS
BECAUSE (LAUGHING) HE
DESPERATELY NEEDED THE
PALLIATIVE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA.
SO I THINK WE SAW ACROSS BOARD A
LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WHO REALLY IN
NEED OF IT.
I MUST CONFESS, I DO DID NOT
VOTE FOR THE BILL BECAUSE I
THOUGHT THE BILL WAS FAR TOO
CUMBERSOME IN ITS LABYRINTH OF
REGULATION.
AND I ALSO THINK THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE WHO ARE UNDERGROUND ARE THE
ONES WHO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENT CALIBRATIONS OF
MARIJUANA TO PROVIDE IT TO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MEDICAL NEED
FOR IT.
>>I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER. BUT, FIRST, JUST FOR
CLARIFICATION, CROHN'S DISEASE
IS A DISEASE OF THE STOMACH.
>>SMALL INTESTINE AND LARGE
INTESTINE, CORRECTION.
IT IS ONE OF THE QUALIFYING
CONDITIONS IN THE LAW.
>>WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT
MOMENTARILY.
YOU ARE IN J.C.A.R., JOINT
COMMITTEE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES.
>>CORRECT.
>>EXPLAIN WHY J.C.A.R. EXISTS SO
WE ALL KNOW YOU PASS A BILL BUT
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE END
OF THE PROCESS.
>>NO, I THINK VERY OFTEN WE HEAR
THAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN A BILL
PASS.
BUT THEN WHEN THE RULES ARE
PROMULGATED, IT IS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE INTENT
OF THE LAW WAS.
J.C.A.R. IS IN PLACE TO ASSURE
THAT THE RULE MAKING IMPLEMENTS
A PIECE OF LEGISLATION COMPORTS
WITH THE LEGISLATION ITSELF.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ISN'T
OVERREACH IN THE RULE MAKING
THAT GOES BEYOND THE LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITY PROVIDED IN THE LAW
ITSELF.
I MUST TELL YOU VERY, VERY FAST
MOVING COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS
FROM EACH CAUCUS, SENATE, HOUSE,
REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, SO THERE
ARE 12 OF US, AND WE REVIEW
THESE RULES EACH MONTH AND VOTE
ACCORDINGLY.
WAS THIS A PARTICULAR STUMBLING
BLOCK OR ISSUE WITH REGARD--
>>NO, I THINK THIS LAW WAS SO
COMPLICATED, HAD SO MANY
DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN IT.
IT HAS TAKEN A GREAT DEAL OF
TIME FOR EACH OF THESE AGENCIES
TO COME FORTHWITH THEIR RULES.
THEN THERE ARE PERIODS OF TIME
FOR COMMENT, AND SO IT EXTENDS
THE TIME TO IRON OUT ANY
DIFFERENCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND
TO COME UP WITH A FINAL SET OF
RULES.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
AGENCIES INVOLVED.
ONE OF THOSE IS THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE WHICH WILL
OVERSEE THE LICENSING OF
CULTIVATION CENTERS.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF DELEVAN
IS HOPING TO ATTRACT.
>>THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO SAY, THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN
TOUGH TIMES FOR SMALL
COMMUNITIES LIKE DELEVAN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE VERY FAR
HERE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS OR
THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO SEE THE
MANY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DYING
OR HAVE DIED.
WE ARE FORTUNATE IN TOWN, WE
HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE CITY
COUNCIL.
AND RATHER THAN LETTING DELEVAN
CONTINUE DOWN THAT SLIPPERY
SLOPE, WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE ACTION.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE BULL BY
THE HORNS AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO
STOP THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TAKEN SOME AGGRESSIVE
ACTION REGARDING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, PUTTING T.I.F.
DISTRICTS IN PLACE, AND WE ARE
SEEING A RESURGENCE OF OUR LOCAL
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, A
NEW SUBDIVISION DEVELOPING ON
THE NORTH SIDE.
WE WERE APPROACHED THEN EARLY IN
2014 BY A GROUP WHO WAS
INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING A
CULTIVATION CENTER.
AND AFTER MEETING WITH THEM, WE
REALIZED WHAT A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY IT WOULD BE TO
FURTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
THE CITY OF DELEVAN.
AND WHAT A HUGE SHOT IN THE ARM
IT WOULD BE FOR OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
SO WE DIDN'T HESITATE TO JUMP ON
BOARD, AND CONSEQUENTLY, WE WERE
ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITIES IN
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO DO SO.
>>CAN YOU GIVE SOME IDEA, WHEN
YOU SAY "ECONOMIC BOOST," WHAT
KIND OF A BOOST?
>> FINANCIALLY, IT CERTAINLY
WILL MEAN ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT WILL
BE FINANCIAL MONEYS FOR THE CITY
AS WELL.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM
OF 50 NEW JOBS COMING TO DELEVAN
WHICH WOULD MAKE IT THE SECOND
LARGEST EMPLOYER IN TOWN.
>>WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A
CULTIVATION CENTER, WHAT ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT, DAVE?
>>IT IS A VERY LARGE FACILITY
WHERE HYDROPONICALLY, THE
MARIJUANA IS GROWN, IT IS LIKE A
FORTRESS.
THERE ARE CAMERAS AND GUARDS
(LAUGHING) ALL MANNER OF
SECURITY THERE.
>>BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GET
MARIJUANA ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.
IS IT UNDER GLASS?
IS THAT HOW IT O WORKS?
>> IT IS UNDERCOVER.
IT IS ALL ENCLOSED, GROWN
HYDROPONICALLY, YES, AND IT IS
VERY SECURE.
IN FACT, I WILL NEVER BE IN THAT
FACILITY ONCE IT IS BUILT, NO
MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL-- IT WILL
BE LIMITED ONLY TO THE
EMPLOYEES.
IT IS UNDER 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE
BY THE STATE POLICE.
IT IS VERY, VERY SECURE.
WE SHOULD CLARIFY YOU ARE ONE OF
AT LEAST FOUR APPLICANTS IN THIS
PARTICULAR STATE POLICE
DISTRICT.
THERE ARE 22 STATE POLICE
DISTRICTS.
EACH GETS A CULTIVATION CENTER.
SO THE ONE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS,
DISTRICT EIGHT, I BELIEVE IS OUR
DISTRICT.
THEY WILL GET ONE.
SO I THINK OUTSIDE OF VARNA,
SOUTHERN PEORIA COUNTY, AND
DELEVAN.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS,
DOCTOR.
LET'S SAY I HAVE A QUALIFYING
CONDITION.
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF
QUALIFYING CONDITIONS?
>> A PERSON WITH CANCER IN PAIN
WOULD BE QUALIFYING IN PAIN.
A PERSON WITH HEPATITIS C AND
CHRONIC PAIN, PERSONS WITH
CONGENITAL OR DRUG RESISTANT
EPILEPSY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PEDIATRIC
CONDITIONS AND HEREDITARY
SYNDROMES THAT REQUIRE THAT HAVE
EPILEPSY DRUG TREATMENT.
A NUMBER OF SEVERE FIBROMYALGIA.
>>HOW MANY ARE THERE?
>> ABOUT 30.
>>CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS?
WHAT ARE THE RULES BECAUSE THE
RULES ARE SET UP, I SUPPOSE, BY
J.C.A.R. THEY WERE SET UP.
>>RIGHT.
LET ME EXPLAIN OUR POSITION AT
OSF.
WE HAVE 400 PHYSICIANS. WE NEED
TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THIS TO
GIVE SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS.
OUR GUIDANCE IS WE DON'T REQUIRE
IT NOR DO WE PROHIBIT THE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS OF A
PERSON.
SO OUR PHYSICIANS WILL DECIDE
THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WANT TO
PARTICIPATE IN CERTIFICATION OR
NOT.
WE DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN FORCE
THEM.
WE DON'T WANT TO FORCE THEM.
THE PROCESS IS THROUGH STATE
RULES, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
FORMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT
HAVE BEEN TO BE USED, AND
BASICALLY CERTIFY THIS PATIENT
HAS THIS CONDITION. THEY ARE
OVER 18.
THEY ARE LIKELY TO BENEFIT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE CERTAIN
BENEFIT, BUT LIKELY TO BENEFIT
FROM IT.
AND THE PHYSICIAN CERTIFIES
THIS, SIGNS IT.
THEY ARE NOT PRESCRIBING.
THE PHYSICIAN THEN IS TO MAIL
THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, AND THAT ENDS THE
PHYSICIAN INVOLVEMENT AT THAT
POINT AND TIME.
THE PERSON HAS TO HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PATIENT.
HE CAN'T GO TO A DOCTOR WHO ONLY
DOES CERTIFICATIONS OF
MARIJUANA.
THEY HAVE TO BE ONGOING
TREATMENT RELATIONSHIP IN THIS
PARTICULAR CERTIFYING PROCESS.
THAT PERSON THEN WILL-- THAT
PATIENT WILL BE CERTIFIED AND
REGISTERED BY THE STATE.
I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS
EXACTLY, BUT IT IS
FINGERPRINTING, A NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT ARE DONE,
VERIFICATION, TO A LAW THEM TO
BE GIVEN A CARD-- TO ALLOW THEM
TO BE GIVEN A CARD. THERE ARE
SPECIFIC RULES FOR THE PERSON,
IN CARRYING THE MARIJUANA, BUT
CAN'T DRIVE PROHIBITING SCHOOL
BUS DRIVING, I THINK THERE IS A
TAMPER PROOF MEDICINE CONTAINER,
WHEN THEY DRIVE WITH IT, THEY
HAVE TO HAVE IT IN IT.
THERE IS ALSO A PROVISION FOR
CAREGIVER.
A LOT OF PATIENTS WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT ARE SYMPTOMATICALLY IN
PAIN, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
COMPLEX PATIENTS THAT HAVE REAL
SERIOUS PROBLEMS. WE ARE NOT,
YOU KNOW, BUT THEY NEED
CAREGIVERS.
THE CAREGIVERS HAS TO ABIDE BY
SOME RULES, TOO, BUT CAN PICK
THE MEDICINE UP.
IT IS ON A TWO WEEK BASIS, TWO
AND A HALF GRAMS IS WHAT THE
RULE STATES ON THAT BASIS.
SO THERE ISN'T A PRESCRIPTION
PER SE?
>> RIGHT, THERE IS TO
PRESCRIPTION.
PART OF OUR PHYSICIAN ANGST
ABOUT ALL THIS, MANY OF OUR
PATIENTS ARE, AS I SAID,
COMPLEX, ON A NUMBER OF
MEDICATIONS.
THEY WOULD BE ON OPIATES.
THEY COULD BE ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS
AND ASKED TO GIVE THEM MARIJUANA
OR CERTIFY IT.
WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THOSE
INTERACT.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY INTERACT.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS.
ONE OF OUR FIRST THINGS IS DO NO
HARM.
PHYSICIANS WILL BE REDUCTANT TO
MAKE JUDGMENTS.
THAT WILL BE COMPLEX.
THAT WILL CAUSE SOME CONFLICT OF
THE PATIENT-DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP.
DOCTOR MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THE PATIENT WANTS IT.
IT WILL TAKE TIME TO WORK
THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
>>WE TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE OVERSEEING THE
CULTIVATION CENTER.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
OVERSEEING THE PROCESS FOR
GETTING A CARD.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION.
THAT OVERSEES THE DISPENSARIES.
THERE IS A DISPENSARY AFTER THE
CULTIVATION CENTER.
IT GOES TO A DISPENSARY?
>> CORRECT.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, I BELIEVE THERE
ARE FIVE DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
THERE ARE HEFTY FEES INVOLVED
WITH EACH ONE.
SO FRANKLY, THE STATE HAS PRETTY
WELL COVERED THE BASIS TO MILK
THIS AS MUCH AS IT CAN POSSIBLY
COME UP WITH.
THEN THE DISPENSARIES, THOSE TWO
HAVE VERY TIGHT SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS INVOLVED WITH
THOSE.
AS DR. McSHANE INDICATED, THE
PRESCRIPTION CARD HAS TO BE
AVAILABLE ONLY TO PEOPLE OVER
18, AND IT IS GOING TO BE VERY
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT ALL
UNFOLDS.
>>GOING TO BE UP TO 60
DISTRIBUTION DISPENSARY CENTERS
IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
NOW, THERE IS A FEE.
ONCE THE RELATIONSHIP IS
ESTABLISHED WITH THE DOCTOR,
THERE IS A CONTINUING
RELATIONSHIP, AND YOU AUTHORIZE
MEDICAL CANNABIS, YOU SEND THE
FORM INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH?
>> YEAH, WE CERTIFY THE PATIENT
MEETS THE QUALIFICATION AND IS
LIKELY TO BENEFIT.
>>THEN THERE IS A FEE THE
PATIENT PAYS?
>> WITH A CARD, YES.
>>FOR CARD.
I BELIEVE IT IS A HUNDRED
DOLLARS.
I THINK THERE IS SOME VETERANS
GET IT FOR 50, SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
SO ALL THEY DO IS SHOW THE CARD
WHEN THEY GO TO THE DISPENSARY?
>>NO, THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR
DESIGNATED AS ELIGIBLE TO HAVE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
SO THEY PRESENT THAT AND ARE
ABLE TO PURCHASE MARIJUANA.
>>I THINK THE PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENT WILL KEEP A DATA BASE
OF ALL THE PATIENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN CERTIFIED.
THAT'S IT.
THEN THEY ARE ABLE TO GO, THE
DISPENSARY WILL HAVE THE
INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM THE
DATA BASE WHEN THEY GET IT, AND
THEY WILL FOLLOW IT THAT WAY.
IT IS NOT A PRESCRIBING PROCESS.
IF A PERSON AT SOME POINT FAILS
TO MEET THE QUALIFYING
CONDITION, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO
REPORT IT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
IF THEY DON'T FURTHER QUALIFY.
THEY WILL BE TAKEN OFF THAT LIST
IS HOW I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
>>THAT'S WHY IT SHOULD BE A
CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE PATIENT AND DOCTOR.
WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR
THE CULTIVATION CENTER IS
SEPTEMBER22, THAT THERE IS
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THOSE
WHO WANT TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET
MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
2,000 APPLIED IN THE FIRST THREE
DAYS.
THOSE ARE FOR PEOPLE-- ONLY
PEOPLE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE
ALPHABET, PEOPLE WITH M THROUGH
Z AS START OF LAST NAME WOULD
WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER FOR
APPLICATION PROCESS.
LET ME TURN TO MAYOR SKINNER
AGAIN.
MARIJUANA CAN BE A CONTROVERSIAL
TOPIC.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS
ILLEGAL RIGHT NOW, CORRECT?
>>CORRECT.
>>SO WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF THE
COMMUNITY?
BECAUSE WE KNOW DELEVAN IS
RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE.
>>IT IS A RELATIVELY
CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU
OVERWHELMINGLY, OVERWHELMINGLY
THE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY
ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THERE HAS BEEN-- I WOULD SAY
CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN
NON-EXISTENT OVER THIS ISSUE. I
THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE
THAT CERTAINLY HAVE LOVED ONES
WHO HAVE HAD CHRONIC MEDICAL
CONDITIONS AND PAIN.
I THINK PEOPLE CAN CERTAINLY
RELATE AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK THERE IS A VERY CLEAR
DISTINCTION THAT PEOPLE SEE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA VERSUS ILLEGAL
AND RECREATIONAL DRUG USE.
IN THOSE PEOPLE'S MINDS, THAT'S
A CLEAR DISTINCTION.
BUT, REALLY, THERE HAS BEEN NO
CONTROVERSY.
>>WITH THAT IN MIND,
REPRESENTATIVE, IS THIS NOT A
RADICAL IDEA?
>> I DON'T THINK-- NO, I DON'T
THINK IT IS A RADICAL IDEA.
I THINK IT IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN
OCCURRING FOR GENERATIONS, SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF TIME PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN SELF-MEDICATING WITH
MARIJUANA AND WITH STREET DRUGS
FOR THAT MATTER.
SO I DON'T VIEW THE USE OF
MEDICAL MARIJUANA AS RADICAL IN
ANY WAY I THINK IT IS TIME TO
MAKE IT AVAILABLE.
AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO
ACCELERATE THE RESEARCH ABOUT
IT.
I THINK IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
SO, IN MY VIEW, RIDICULOUS IN
ITS TREATMENT OF MARIJUANA AND
HAS PROHIBITED EVEN THE RESEARCH
ELEMENTS.
IN EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE
ARE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WHO
ARE EMBRACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA,
AND, IN FACT, THEY ARE IN A
LANDRUSH TO TRY TO CREATE PILLS
THAT WOULD REPLICATE THE EFFECTS
OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF
MARIJUANA.
>> SHAKING YOUR HEAD, YES.
>>OH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT
IS-- I THINK IT WILL BECOME A
TYPICAL PHARMACOLOGICAL
MEDICATION.
GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF STUDY,
WHICH OF THOSE CHEMICALS REALLY
WORK.
MY CONCERN WITH THAT, IS IT
GOING TO CREATE SUCH A COSTLY
ACTIVITY THAT IT BECOMES NOT
AFFORDABLE.
SO THE AFFORDABILITY WILL BE A
FACTOR HERE THAT WE MAY NOT MOVE
DOWN THAT ROAD.
I AM JUST SAYING, INHALING
MARIJUANA HAS SOME
COMPLICATIONS.
INHALING SMOKE MAYBE LESS
EXPENSIVE THAN THE TRUE MEDICAL
PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THIS
TREATMENT.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS THIS HAS
BEEN SO COMPLICATED AND SO
CONTROVERSIAL, IT IS IN THE
INTEREST OF THE BIG INTEREST
GROUPS.
YOU HAVE THE PHARMACISTS,
DOCTOR, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
PSYCHIATRISTS, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, IN DRUG
RAIDS, POLICE GET TO CONFISCATE
WHATEVER IS THERE AND TAKE IT
AND SPEND THE MONEY.
I MEAN SO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY
NEED TO HAVE SOME PALLIATIVE
EFFECTS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS
REALLY KIND OF BEEN AT A LOSS
BECAUSE ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES,
OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC IS VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH IN THIS
TURMOIL THAT IS ON PERIPHERY,
THAT THE REAL ISSUE OF MEDICAL
TREATMENT HAS BEEN LOST IN THE
SHUFFLE.
>>LET ME, FOR CLARIFICATION
PURPOSES, THE CITY OF DELEVAN
ACTUALLY DOESN'T MAKE
APPLICATION?
>> NO, IT IS THE COMPANY THAT IS
LOOKING TO BUILD THE CULTIVATION
CENTER.
THEY WILL BE MAKING THE
APPLICATION.
NOW CERTAINLY WE HAVE ASSISTED
ALONG WAY EVEN IN HELPING TO
SELECT A LOCATION, AND THAT KIND
OF THING. BUT IT IS THE COMPANY
THAT IS MAKING THE APPLICATION.
>>ICC HOLDINGS OUT OF JOLIET?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>WILL IT BE PART OF THE CITY?
WILL YOU ANNEX THAT PROPERTY?
>> YES, WE DEFINITELY WILL.
IT WILL BE A PART OF A NEW
T.I.F. DISTRICT.
>>TAX INCLUDED FINANCING
DISTRICT?
>> YES.
>>HOW BIG IS THE TERRITORY
CULTIVATION CENTER.
>>TEN ACRES.
>>IS THAT SET BY LAW, TEN ACRES?
>> NO.
>>JUST HAPPENS TO BE.
>>UH-HUH.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF
TIME. I WANT TO THANK BOTH
DR.McSHANE, DR.GERALD
McSHANE, C.E.O. OF OSF MEDICAL
GROUP, WE THANK YOU.
WE THANK LIZ SKINNER WHO IS THE
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DELEVAN FOR
THE CONVERSATION, AND ALSO AS
ALWAYS, WE THANK REPRESENTATIVE
DAVE LEITCH, WHO REPRESENTS THE
CITY OF PEORIA IN SPRINGFIELD.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "AT
ISSUE."
NEXT WEEK, WE WILL TAKE A LOOK
AT FERGUSON, MISSOURI, NOT
SPECIFICALLY FERGUSON BUT WHAT
MIGHT HAPPEN IF A SIMILAR
SITUATION PRESENTS ITSELF IN
CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
THE AFTERMATH OF FERGUSON, MO
ON THE NEXT "AT ISSUE"