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Laura Llanes was fired as a police dispatcher after she admitted buying marijuana for her aunt, who is suffering from breast cancer. Laura Llanes does not regret buying her aunt marijuana, even though it has cost her a job as police dispatcher.

She was stunned, nevertheless, when she was fired last week after admitting she bought the marijuana to help relieve her aunt's suffering through breast cancer and chemotherapy.

Marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal with a prescription in 13 states; Illinois is not one of them.

Llanes, 28, of Lake Villa remains adamant she did the right thing, saying her biggest mistake was telling a few co-workers what she had done: "They ratted me out."

Her aunt, who lives in Aurora, was "sick constantly, not eating, not having an appetite. She is diabetic. She has to eat. She was whittling away to nothing," said Llanes.

"I thought I will get her some marijuana so it would get her to eat. It worked. She did get the munchies."

Llanes has not been charged with a crime, but when confronted by her supervisor at CenCom E-9-11, she admitted she had bought marijuana and was promptly fired Wednesday.

"All that mattered was that I admitted to committing an illegal act," she said.

Llanes said she doesn't use marijuana, but she was able to buy some, enough to make about three joints, for her aunt about two weeks ago through a friend. Her aunt smoked the marijuana and said it worked, but, worried about the legal implications, she declined Llanes' offer to buy more.

Llanes has worked seven years as a police dispatcher, the last four for CenCom E9-1-1 in Round Lake Beach. CenCom serves as a centralized dispatch service for eight north suburban police and fire departments.

Calls to CenCom were referred to director Lisa Berger, who did not return messages Monday.

Llanes' aunt, 60, lived with her in 2008 after undergoing a double mastectomy, Llanes said. She has since moved to Aurora and could not be reached Monday, according to Llanes.

"In Illinois, the law offers these folks no protection at all, unfortunately," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, which lobbies for the legalization and regulation of marijuana use.

A prescription drug in pill form called Marinol contains synthetic THC, the main ingredient in marijuana. But it doesn't work for everyone, and its results are slow-arriving and unpredictable, Mirken said.

"If you talk to cancer patients, they don't want to get high," he said. "They just don't want to feel sick."

A bill introduced in the legislature calls for allowing the medicinal use of marijuana in a three-year test program. Critics include the Illinois State Police, which opposes the legislation because of concerns about potential abuse and enforcement.

State Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale) said she opposes the bill because it lacks support from the greater medical community. "There is absolutely no control over this by a pharmacy," said Bellock.

Source: Police dispatcher fired for buying pot says she did right thing -- chicagotribune.com

Just thought I share. This is just one of the many people that have faced consequences because of the current legal status of marijuana.

BudSmoker92

Its a shame her boss is that ignorant...Hopefully she'll be able to find a better job without a dick for a boss.

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hippie557

Kind of sucks for her, but maybe telling people in the law enforcement field that she bought marijuana wasn't the smartest thing to do. Article doesn't even say why she told them, could have been a casual situation.Really sucks for her though.

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"How does it feel?
To be on your own,
No direction home,
A complete unknown,
Like a rolling stone."

Herbania

I think it's horrible what happened to her. She should be commended to helping her aunt. I hope it gets a bit more media than it has, just to start conversations.That being said, she WAS a police dispatcher and it would only take the teeniest, tiniest amount of common sense not to talk to your co-workers about breaking the law in a law enforcement situation. Hey, I think the co-worker who narced her off was a dick too, but people get into law enforcement support the laws generally and she should have known better. I can't help but think she isn't the sharpest tool in the shed....she has only herself to blame for being fired. Had she not opened her big mouth at work she would still be working.

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Fighting fire with empty words While the banks get fat
And the poor stay poor And the rich get rich
And the cops get paid To look away
As the one percent rules America
-Queensryche

marijuanavillle7

Potential abuse? You have got to be fucking kidding me.

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Herb can get you through times with no money
better then times with money and no herb..
=

ChioBam

Fucking ridiculous. Screw the fucked up ideals of this delusion I'm ashamed to call a 'law'.

Vesey

It was a bad call on her part to tell her "friends" about her adventure. Her boss had no choice but to fire her once she admitted it, regardless of his opinion of the situation.

If the signs says don't step on the grass, don't tell the landlord the footprints were yours.

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DonkeyKron

Fuuck. thats rough. I wish i woulda known her aunt, i woulda blazed her up every day and brought her food. Damn, she has breast cancer and shes diabetic? Jesus...she shoulda got free pot.

SleepyJohn

It is stories like this, that should be compiled,and shown to any non-partisan group, to change their minds. It's so sad,it's bad. Talking to "friends" in the police department, shows that the police department isn't just there 'To Protect,and Serve", but rather fill up, the courts,and,prisons, with sick people being used to prove a sorry point in the law.
Hey!! It's law changin' time!

tayg13

Thats terrible . Especially for a cancer patient. I hope we can change the system currently in place, and soon. Its not working, im tired of all this.

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If a stranger walked up to you, poured pebble like seeds into your hand and said "plant them, and your harvest can be made into rope, cloth, or paper. It could help the sick, or intoxicate" what would you say? would you keep the seeds, or chuck them away?
I love making bongs
www.myspace.com/sickgoat