Nearly 250 Illinois physicians are calling on state lawmakers to legalize the use of marijuana for seriously ill patients.
Some physicians say marijuana can be a safer and more effective treatment than narcotics for patients with diseases such as cancer and HIV.
The Illinois House is expected to vote today to create a medical marijuana pilot program. It would allow doctors who have an existing relationship with a patient to prescribe marijuana for certain conditions. Patients would be limited to buying 2 and a half ounces at a time from dispensaries regulated by the state.
