Alva Review-Courier -

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers have come up with an unusual solution to combat its opioid crisis, allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana instead of opiates as a way to curb a growing epidemic.

Doctors could choose to temporarily prescribe cannabis for patients who suffer from conditions traditionally treated with opioids. The plan, which is on the governor's desk, is meant to address a growing opioid crisis in the state: 11,000 people have died from opioid-related overdoses since 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. In 2016, opioid deaths were near...