Illinois Senate approves bill where individuals taking opioids would be eligible to use medical marijuana as an alternative

(Image: The Southern)

"The Illinois Senate has passed a bill aimed at providing alternatives to opioid prescription."

"Senate Bill 336 allows any condition for which opioids could be prescribed to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program. Basically, this means individuals who might otherwise take an opioid would be eligible to use medical marijuana."

"The legislation creates a pilot program that allows patients to take a physician certification to a dispensary to receive medical cannabis. Patients can participate in the program and use medical cannabis to help them transition off their initial opioid prescription, or to treat their pain without ever using opioids, according to a news release from the bill’s sponsor, Don Harmon, D-Oak Park."

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/illinois-senate-bill-would-make-medical-marijuana-an-alternative-to/article_6cf239e1-c4a5-5194-a34e-03d506379f55.html