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 Former Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, who supported medical
marijuana, left office in January without issuing licenses for
growth and distribution, leaving it to his successor, Republican
Governor Bruce Rauner.
Rauner, who has expressed skepticism about the licensing process,
wants a thorough legal review, his office said, which means more
time before the 2013 law can be implemented.
For patients that means no hope of getting the drug until at least
June even if the Rauner administration issues licenses in the next
month, said Chris Lindsey, legislative analyst for the Marijuana
Policy Project, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit.
The law requires plants to be grown in Illinois, which takes 4-1/2
months in the best of circumstances.
"We're pretty concerned - we've been waiting for a long time,"
Lindsey said. Supporters had hoped licenses would be issued last
fall.
Illinois is one of 23 states plus the District of Columbia that
permits medical marijuana. Illinois' trial program expires in 2017.
Lindsey said he believes Rauner is "trying to be careful, but in the
process he's really failing our seriously ill patients in Illinois."
The Quinn administration prepared lists of businesses qualified to
receive the licenses before he left office, according to recently
released documents.
A Quinn administration spokesperson said that while state agencies
made substantial progress evaluating applicants, Quinn decided to
turn the job over to Rauner for proper review.
Rauner's office said it will refer its findings to the state
Attorney General's office.
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Democratic State Representative Lou Lang, a medical marijuana
supporter, said Quinn's staff used blind scoring procedures to
eliminate favoritism in picking who should get licenses, and it was
a shame Quinn didn't issue them.
"Now we have a governor who's not a big fan of the program and has
to be convinced to move forward," Lang said.
Lang said a patient or potential distributor who got a high
qualifying score may sue to move things along.
Marla Levi, 51, who has multiple sclerosis, said she felt betrayed
by Quinn.
But she doesn't mind the Rauner administration going through the
lists again to ensure the right people will be growing and
dispensing the drug.
"We know how government has worked in Illinois ... we want to know
everything," Levi said.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
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