SPRINGFIELD– State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, Sen. Laura Fine, other legislators, and treatment and harm reduction specialists will hold a subject matter hearing on Monday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago (160 N. LaSalle Street). Legislators and participants will discuss an overview of cannabis-related taxes for behavioral health and opioid settlement
funds.
Special funding sources like cannabis revenue and opioid settlement funds are part of Illinois’ strategic approach to tackling the behavioral health workforce shortage, supporting the mental health infrastructure, and broadening access to substance use treatment and harm reduction services across the state. As Chairperson of the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee,
LaPointe (D-Chicago) has led efforts, in tandem with State Senator Laura Fine (D- Glenview), to combat the current behavioral health and opioid crisis.
“Strategically allocating cannabis revenue and opioid settlement funds to our most acute mental health and substance use needs can be a transformative step to meet our growing demand for mental health and substance use services, including harm reduction, in every corner of Illinois,” said LaPointe.
“This hearing will shine a light on how we are using funding to support essential mental health programs,” said Fine. “This will give us the opportunity to hear from experts and stakeholders in the field to see how we can best meet our goals of a robust mental health system in our state.”
Speakers include:
● Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
● John Werning, Executive Director, Chicago Recovery Alliance
● Sophia Peng, MD, FASAM, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Community Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center
● Jeremy Klemanski, President and CEO, Gateway
Who: State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, State Sen. Laura Fine, IDHS, treatment and harm reduction specialists
What: Joint Mental Health & Addiction Subject Matter Hearing
When: Monday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle St., Chicago
For more information, please contact Info@RepLaPointe.com or 773-647-1174
