Podcast Summary
Illinois flag design, LGBTQ+ healthcare: Illinois residents can design a new state flag and 10 designs will be put to public vote in 2023. LGBTQ+ Americans face discrimination in healthcare, including as they age, and a new toolkit from Sage helps them plan for future care. Illinois medical marijuana patients can now buy products from small businesses at their discounted rate.
Illinois residents have the opportunity to design a new state flag that reflects the diverse heritage and communities of the state. The Illinois Flag Commission will select 10 designs for public voting, which begins on January 1st, 2023. The winning design could potentially replace the current state flag, but it will need approval from the Illinois General Assembly. Meanwhile, a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation reveals that LGBTQ+ Americans face discrimination in healthcare, including as they age. To help address this issue, a nonprofit advocacy group called Sage has created an LGBTQ+ advanced care planning toolkit. This resource guides individuals on how to appoint a healthcare proxy, communicate their wishes, and plan for funeral or memorial arrangements. Additionally, Illinois medical marijuana patients can now purchase cannabis from small businesses at their typical discounted rate. This decision comes after patients have sought to buy these products for nearly two years. Only about 20% of Illinois dispensaries are licensed to serve medical marijuana patients.