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The cannabis plant is commonly referred to as “marijuana” or “weed.” As of January 1st, 2020, it will be legal in Illinois. There are numerous limitations.
People who require medical marijuana can obtain a card that allows them to circumvent some limitations. They can, for example, grow their own plants at home.
You can obtain medical marijuana if you:
- You must have a qualifying ailment or be terminally ill to be eligible.
- Obtain a written statement from your physician.
- Fill out an application and pay the cost to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
- On the IDPH website, you may learn more about this procedure.
Medical disorders that qualify
You must be terminally sick or suffer from one of the illnesses listed below:
- Autism
- Alzheimer’s disease agitation
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a type of amyotrophic lateral (ALS)
- Anorexia nervosa is a type of anorexia.
- Arnold-Chiari malformation is a type of congenital malformation.
- Cancer
- Cachexia (also known as wasting syndrome) is a condition in which the body
- Causalgia
- Inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a kind of chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Pain that lasts a long time
- Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel illness that affects
- CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) is (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
- Dystonia
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a type of ehlers-danlos syndrome.
- Fibrous Dysplasia is a type of fibrous dysplasia.
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver.
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydromyelia
- Interstitial cystitis is a type of cystitis that affects the bladder
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a type of irritable bowel syndrome
- Lupus \sMigraines
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects
- Muscular Dystrophy is a type of muscular dystrophy.
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myoclonus
- Nail-patella syndrome is a condition in which the nail grows into the patella
- The autoimmune illness Neuro- Bechet’s
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neuropathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects people.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a type of kidney disease that affects (PKD)
- Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a condition that occurs after a con
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a type of post-traumatic stress disorder that (PTSD)
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a type of reflex sympathetic dyst
- Leg discomfort that persists
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints.
- Convulsions (including those characteristic of Epilepsy)
- Fibromyalgia with severe symptoms
- Sjogren’s syndrome is a type of Sjogren’s syndrome.
- Disease of the spinal cord (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
- Damage to the nerve tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indications of intractable spasticity is known as spinal cord injury.
- Ataxia of the spine and cerebellum
- Syndrome of superior canal dehiscence
- Syringomyelia
- Cysts of Tarlov
- Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of brain injury
- Colitis ulcerative
Conditions for which opioids may be administered
If you have a condition for which opioids have been or could be prescribed, you are also eligible. This is just for patients who are 21 years old or older.
With a prescription from your doctor, you can visit a online dispensary.
It must specify that you are using or may have been given an opioid prescription. While the IDPH processes your application, you can buy marijuana from the dispensary.
You can acquire temporary access if you have a doctor’s note and have made an online application. You can purchase medicinal marijuana from a dispensary for a period of 90 days, or until your application is denied or accepted, whichever comes first.
Certificate from a doctor
A doctor’s certificate is required to obtain medical marijuana. They must be a doctor of medicine (“MD”) or a doctor of osteopathy (“DO”). They must be treating you for one of the conditions listed above. Explain that you’re interested in medical marijuana and that you’ll need a document from them detailing your medical condition.
Patients cannot be certified by doctors at the Veterans Administration. Veterans who are undergoing treatment at a VA facility must submit their medical records from the previous year.
Application
You must submit an application to the IDPH for medical marijuana. The IDPH website allows you to apply online. You can also print and mail a copy of the application to IDPH at:
Division of Medical Cannabis, Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761-0001
You must also include the following information:
- A photo of yourself, proof of Illinois residency, and the needed fee
- Fingerprints or a Fingerprint Consent Form are not required.
Residency documentation
To verify that you live in Illinois, you will need two documents. Each must have the same address as the one on your application. These could include:
Bank statements, utility bills, a state ID, a driver’s license, or a voter ID card are all acceptable forms of identification.
Photo
A 2×2 passport-style photo is required. It has to be in front of a plain white background with nothing in the background. It’s not enough to take a “selfie.”
You can’t receive medical marijuana if you have a valid school bus driver’s permit or a commercial driver’s license. You can’t also be:
A police officer, a correctional officer, a correctional probation officer, or a firefighter on active duty.
Obtaining assistance with the application
The IDPH collaborates with local health departments to assist qualified patients in completing medical marijuana applications. There is no payment for this service. The registration fees and other procedures must still be paid (i.e., passport photo, fingerprint background check). More information is available on the IDPH website’s application help page.
Minors are subject to special rules.
Patients under the age of 18 do not required to submit a photo or a background check based on their fingerprints. They must see two doctors: one to provide a certificate and the other to review it. At least one caregiver must be designated.
A unique card with certain restrictions will be handed to the patient. When the patient reaches the age of 18, he or she can apply for an adult card. They have the option of applying immediately or during the standard renewal term. Only registered dispensaries are allowed to sell medical marijuana-infused goods to designated caregivers. Other forms of medical marijuana products are prohibited.
On school grounds or on a school bus, a parent or guardian can administer medical marijuana-infused goods to a pupil. A school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school must approve this. A registry ID card is required for both the student and the parent or guardian.
Fees
The following are the costs of obtaining a medicinal marijuana card:
For one year, $100; for two years, $200; and for three years, $250.
Veterans are eligible for reduced fees. They may also be available to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients (SSI). A copy of the DD214 is required for veterans. A copy of a benefit verification letter dated within the last year should be included for SSDI/SSI recipients.
There are no fees for patients who are nearing the end of their lives.
You can receive a registry card if you have a terminal disease with a life expectancy of less than 6 months. This will be valid for a period of six months. There will be no application fees, and the procedure will be streamlined. If you meet the requirements, the state will give you with a registry ID. This will be good for one, two, or three years. This could happen after a few weeks or months.
Caregivers
The caregiver of a patient can register to get and carry marijuana to the patient. They must complete the caregiver application in its entirety. They must include the $25 charge as well as all supporting documentation. These are some of them:
A photo, proof of residency, proof of age and identification, and the signature of the caregiver are all required.
Along with the patient’s application, the caregiver’s application should be sent.
You can still apply for a card if you are under the age of 18. There are a variety of rules.
Renewing your application
You’ll have to renew your application and pay your costs again if your card expires.
