Dear Illinois legislators,

We are your constituents, your neighbors, and your family members, and we are outraged by the continuing, needless suffering of the sick and dying of Illinois because we have not provided them with safe access to the medicine they need. The sick and dying of Illinois deserve better from us.

We ask that you to protect the right of patients and doctors to treat illnesses in the manner they believe works best, which includes the use of medical marijuana, by voting in favor of medical marijuana legislation this year.

The majority of Illinoisans are ready to join the 12 states that have passed compassionate medical marijuana laws: California, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

67% of Illinois voters favor “a new law that would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana for the medical purpose of relieving pain and suffering,” according to a 2002 statewide poll conducted by McCulloch Research & Polling.

62% of Illinois voters support a bill that would “allow people with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and other serious illnesses to use and grow their own marijuana for medical purposes, as long as their physician approves,” according to a 2006 statewide poll conducted by Anzalone-Liszt Research.

It is clear that science, the public, and other states support medical marijuana legislation. We are voters, and we are ready for a change - will you be joining us?