A bill from the Illinois Senate, which would expand the use of medical marijuana to help combat the state’s opioid crisis, has been referred to the Illinois House Rules Committee. Reports from Springfield state that the bill would allow individuals who qualify for opioids can also apply for the state’s medical cannabis program. This would be the start of a pilot program, where patients can take a physician’s certification to a dispensary and receive medical marijuana. Democratic Senator Don Harmon says that the bill he is sponsoring would help patients transition away from opioids to treat with pain, without ever using them. Republican Senator Dale Fowler says that the bill is in response to the state’s growing opioid crisis, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 10,000 residents over the past 10 years.