For the Students, by the Students May 2014 Volume 44 Issue 8
Jesse White Spreads Donor Awareness at L&C by Sierra Beckwith Staff Writer
Secretary of State Jesse White recently made an appearance at Lewis and Clark to spread awareness about organ and tissue donation. “The objectives of this gathering were to try and give the public a depth of information on organ and tissue donor registry, and also to inspire and motivate the public toward registering themselves to be an organ and tissue donor,” said Jared Hennings, Student Activities coordinator. April is National Donate Life Month, so White takes this time of the year to talk to different communities to enlighten them on the importance of being an organ and tissue donor. “In Illinois, we have 5.5 million people signed up as organ donors. We have 5,000 people signed up
on the list as we speak, and each year, hundreds die because organs do not arrive in time,” White said. White, an Alton native, became involved with the organ and tissue donor program long before he became the secretary of state, through his brother’s and sister's personal experiences with the program. He shared with the group the story of his sister's second chance at life thanks to the program. During the campaign, two local women also spoke on their personal experiences with donations. “Donating your organs provides a second chance for some people, or an improvement for their living,” said Music major, Austin Shipley, upon hearing their stories. Patty Kallal, of Jerseyville, spoke of her husband's organ donations saving and improving multiple people's lives. Only months
Photo by Brooke Lavite Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Lewis and Clark Community College President Dale Chapman pose for a photo during White’s presentation in Reid Library. before he was killed in a car accident, the couple discussed him wanting to donate his organs if anything were to happen to him, because he wouldn't need them when he was gone. A few months later,
his misfortune led to the gift of sight for two previously blind individuals. “You may not have a need today; you may not have a need tomorrow, but sometime in your lifetime, you or someone you know
may have a need for an organ,” White said. For further information on registering as an organ and tissue donor, visit lifegoeson.com.
sbeckwith@lc.edu
Illinois Legalizes Medicinal Marijuana by Sierra Beckwith Staff Writer On Aug. 1, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana. The legislation took effect on Jan. 1, 2014. Illinois became the 19th state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Various types of legalization started in 1966 in California and have slowly become accepted in multiple states throughout the country. Illinois medical marijuana laws are said to be some of the strictest in the nation. “The reason I'm signing the bill is because it is so tightly and properly drafted,” Quinn said. There are two standing viewpoints regarding the legalization for this 'medicine,' as some would put it. There are those for it and those against it being used as a legitimate therapy technique. The first medical clinic
to open its doors was Good Intentions in Chicago. In the first two months Good Intentions was open, they received 20,000 requests for care and their numbers have continued to grow. “At some point in time, every medical specialty was viewed with great skepticism,” said Tammy Jacobi, Chief Executive Officer of Good Intentions LLC. They are having a hard time keeping up, but are doing their best to meet the needs of their patients as quickly and efficiently as possible. Legal medical use of this substance allows patients with debilitating diseases to live a more normal lifestyle than their bodies or minds would typically allow. “Too much of anything is never good for one, but when it is used responsibly I see nothing wrong with it. I believe marijuana has many different benefits and hopefully soon
patients around here can be prescribed it if they need it,” said Joshua Baker, a Dorsey resident and music major at Lewis and Clark. Clinics do not dispense the medicine, they only diagnose the patient. They do however assign the patient with their primary dispensary based on patient location. Patients can be prescribed the medication, once given a medical card, under 33 qualifying medical conditions, unless it is a condition otherwise approved by the Department of Public Health. Card holders are allowed up to 2.5 ounces per week, with the exception of indication by the prescribing doctor. They are only permitted to purchase their medical products from the dispensary their doctor assigns them. There will be up to 60 dispensaries spread statewide. These dispensaries can only
Graphic by Adam Hill receive their medical plants from the 22 designated cultivation centers. All of these establishments must go through an application process and gain approval to become licensed by the state. There are currently
10 cities that hold dispensaries, with some cities holding more than one. Most of these are located in the northern part of the state and gradually moving south.
sbeckwith@lc.edu