Progress Illinois

With the Illinois House of Representative possibly voting on the legalization of medicinal marijuana this week, nearly 250 physicians in the state have announced their support of the legislation.

“Who wouldn’t try something illegal if they’ve run out of options,” asked Julie Falco, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 27 years ago and said in 2004 she had thoughts of suicide as a result of a “cloud of heavy medications.”

“The medications didn’t make me feel better, they made me feel worse,” she said, noting that she turned to cannabis when she saw no alternative and immediately saw an “enormous benefit.”

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If Illinois lawmakers do not address the state’s growing pension crisis, essential investments in education, health care, and human services will continue to be cut, according to a recent report (PDF) from the Fiscal Policy Center at Voices For Illinois Children.

“All Illinois residents—including the youngest among us — are paying the price for Illinois’ decades-long failure to make adequate contributions to the state-funded pension plans,” the report, titled “Pension Funding Crisis Worsens” (PDF) reads. “The General Assembly is well aware of the harmful effects of rising pension costs on the rest of the budget. However, progress toward a solution has stalled — making the situation worse.”

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