Ruth N.

Venegas FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marijuana Policy Project May 4, 2017
E-mail: venegasr@uic.edu

HB420 ELIMINATES SUNSET PROVISION TO IL MEDICAL CANNABIS

PILOT PROGRAM

As data from pilot program rolls in, lawmakers are urged to support HB420
to continue pilot program for patients with debilitating illnesses in Illinois.

Chicago, IL. May 4, 2017 As of today, nearly 5,550 qualifying patients have enrolled onto the
Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. Through this program, patients with debilitating
illnesses can qualify for a permit to use medicinal grade cannabis as a treatment option, instead
of relying on opiates or other strong medication.

IL House Bill 420, crafted by Ruth N. Venegas of the Marijuana Policy Project based in Chicago,
IL, will eliminate the sunset provision on the existing pilot program, effectively creating a
permanent program and provision. HB420 gives patients a natural alternative to deal with the
pain brought on by illnesses. It gives doctors another treatment resource for their patients - an
approach that doesnt have the negative side effects of opiates states Venegas, who is also a
health policy student at the UIC School of Public Health.

Venegas knows the benefits of having medical cannabis be an alternative for terminal patients.
Her personal experience has driven her passion behind this project. Her father Henry Venegas
was diagnosed with terminal cancer in August 2016. After being prescribed harsh opiates that
left him feeling weak and debilitated, he decided to give medical grade cannabis a try. His family
noticed an immediate change in his persona - he went from being weak and not much of an
appetite to eating laughing with his loved ones.He was able to have some peace and quality of
life before his passing. It was from this experience that Ruth decided to be an advocate for
others in the same predicament.

Venegas will testify before the Human Services Committee in the IL House of Representatives
in September, where she will argue in support of the benefits of the program, the benefits of
cannabis from evidence-based research, and will detail the potential revenue to be generated
from allowing cannabis to be taxed upon purchase. Program director Joseph Wright says,
1,713 unique patients have purchased nearly $801,000 worth of cannabis during the program's
first month, generating $56,550 in taxes from wholesale cannabis sales.

Data collected from the pilot program supports the main points of HB420. Venegas argues the
bill will provide the support Illinois patients need. IL State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D) is
expected to champion the bill in the IL House of Representatives, while IL Senator Health
Steans (D) is preparing for the bill to arrive in the IL Senate.

HB 420 has garnered a significant amount of support among many progressive legislators, but
the challenges for the bill will be significant." The program's statewide project coordinator, Bob
Morgan stated: "We want safe products and safe controls but we want to make sure that those
suffering from debilitating illnesses have access to cannabis. It's [a matter of] balancing these two
interests." Still, Venegas and her group of supportive organizations are ready to make medical
cannabis a legal option for all patients in Illinois.

For more information, visit the Marijuana Policy Projects website at

http://medicalcannabislaw.weebly.com, or contact Ruth N. Venegas at venegasr@uic.edu.