By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Third party candidates and cannabis cultivation and dispensary operators are celebrating a federal court ruling that allows the medical cannabis industry to donate to candidates of their choice.

Chris Stone, CEO of Springfield and Collinsville medical cannabis dispensary HCI Alternatives, said the ruling only makes sense, because medical cannabis is legal in Illinois.

“Whether it’s medical cannabis, whether it’s alcohol, whether it’s restaurants, whatever you want you should be able to give like everyone else and you shouldn’t be discriminated against,” Stone said.

Stone said his organization is evaluating if it wants to donate to candidates and how much.

“I don’t know what that level will be at this point. We need to talk to our members and see what they want to do if anything,” he said. “We’ll be looking to support candidates that want to be supportive of the industry.”

Claire Ball, who ran as the Libertarian candidate for comptroller in the 2016 special election and plans to run in 2018, said she will actively seek out cannabis campaign contributions.

“Being Libertarian, I think that I am one of the first types of candidates that they’ll want to donate to because we have been for the legalization of marijuana since the 1970s,” Ball said.

Ball, who also was one of the lead plaintiffs in the case that a federal judge decided last month, said the the campaign cash from Illinois’ medical marijuana industry will help campaigns like hers.

“We may not have the millions that the Republicans and Democrats have, but we make good use of the money that we do get in, and this will be a big help,” she said.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office said it is reviewing the ruling but didn’t indicate if it would appeal.