A groundbreaking study partially conducted at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago found that a marijuana extract greatly reduced severe seizures in some children.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has a week to decide whether to expand the state's medical marijuana pilot program. So far the program only covers a limited number of serious illnesses and has 4,000 registered patients. Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple, the head of the state Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, joins us to talk about the pilot program.

State-approved medical marijuana has arrived in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. We get a look inside the first—and so far the only—dispensary to open in the city. 

Today is the first day of medical marijuana sales in Illinois. Who is buying, who is selling, and is the program here to stay? Paris Schutz has the latest.

The seeds of Illinois’ medical marijuana industry are expected to bloom this fall as more pot dispensaries could get the final green light to open. But some industry observers say there are a couple of major buzzkills facing the state’s program. Tonight we’ll talk about those challenges with the chairman of the trade group Medical Cannabis Alliance of Illinois and a partner at a law firm representing two dispensaries. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner granted licenses on Monday to companies to grow and sell medical marijuana in the state. The move comes after a review by the Rauner administration and the Illinois Attorney General, amid fears that Gov. Rauner would take months to reach a decision on the coveted licenses.

Illinois Rep. Lou Lang talks about the status of the state’s medical marijuana program, casino gambling, and his recent meeting with new Gov. Bruce Rauner.

As Illinois prepares for implementation of legal medical marijuana, we take a look at some of the challenges and regulatory hurdles these businesses face.

As the medical marijuana pilot program gets underway in Illinois, some fear the corruption and cronyism the state is known for will dominate who will be granted the first licenses. We explore the application process and how it will be overseen by state officials.

GOP candidate for governor Bruce Rauner says the process to become a medical marijuana grower or seller is rigged to benefit the politically connected. Is it?

Last week the first formal draft rules for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program were published. Program coordinator Bob Morgan explains the guidelines for patients, the changes that were made, and the future of the program.  

Ald. Sandi Jackson briefly opens up about her husband, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., and the City Council takes up decriminalizing pot. Paris Schutz has the latest on a frenetic day at City Hall.

We asked if you think pot possession violators should get a ticket or go to jail. We read what some of you had to say in Viewer Mail.

Mayor Emanuel wants to let cops issue tickets for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Will the move free up police to prevent more serious crimes? Elizabeth Brackett and her guests discuss the issue.

Controversial remarks by Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis surface online. We get reaction to what Lewis had to say about Arne Duncan, among other topics, at a conference in Washington last month.

The debate over decriminalizing marijuana lit up our studio last week. We hear what you had to say about it when we read some viewer mail.