How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois
Schedule an Evaluation with a Certified Physician
Schedule an appointment with a licensed medical marijuana doctor.
Receive Your Doctor’s Recommendation
Once your doctor approves you for medical marijuana, they’ll email you an electronic recommendation that you can use to shop at Illinois dispensaries.
Apply for a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (Optional)
If you want the legal protection and tax benefits of a Illinois medical marijuana identification card (MMIC), you can apply for one in person at the health department in your home county. The cost of an MMIC varies from county to county.
Illinois Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions
To qualify for an MMJ card in Illinois, you must be diagnosed with one of the state’s qualifying conditions. Those conditions are as follows:
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease
- AIDS/HIV
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Arnold-Chiari malformation
- Autism
- CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
- Cachexia/wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Causalgia
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Dystonia
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydromyelia
- Interstitial cystitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lupus
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myoclonus
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neuropathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Post-Concussion Syndrome
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Residual limb pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Seizures (including those characteristic of Epilepsy)
- Severe fibromyalgia
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
- Spinal cord injury is damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
- Syringomyelia
- Tarlov cysts
- Tourette syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury
- Ulcerative colitis
Where Can I Buy Medical Marijuana in Illinois?
There are over 100 marijuana dispensaries operating in Illinois. As a registered patient or caregiver, you can purchase a variety of products, including edibles, topicals, tinctures, and cannabis flower. Each cardholder can buy up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis per 14-day period.
About Illinois Cannabis Program
The Illinois medical marijuana program was established in 2013 with the passage of the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Under the program, patients with qualifying medical conditions can acquire medical marijuana cards that enable them to purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
To obtain an MMJ card, each patient must receive a recommendation from a certified healthcare provider and submit an application to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
How to Renew Your Card in Illinois
In Illinois, medical marijuana patients must renew their MMJ cards annually, but doctor’s certifications are only required once every three years. To execute a full recertification renewal, or a renewal for patients who have had their cards for three years, complete the following steps:
- Schedule Your Renewal Appointment: Book with with a licensed physician.
- Receive Your Doctor’s Recommendation: Once your doctor approves you for medical marijuana, they’ll email you a new electronic recommendation that you can use to continue shopping at Illinois dispensaries.
- Apply for a New Medical Marijuana Identification Card (Optional): If you want the legal protection and tax benefits of a Illinois medical marijuana identification card, you can apply for a new one in person at the health department in your home county. The cost of renewing an MMIC varies from county to county.
How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in IL
In Illinois, a caregiver is someone whom a qualifying medical marijuana patient designates to help them with the purchase and administration of medical marijuana. Caregivers must be Illinois residents who’re at least 21 years old.
To become a caregiver in Illinois, complete the following steps:
- Submit Your Application: Apply to become a caregiver through the Illinois Cannabis Tracking System portal. The state charges $25 for a one-year card, $50 for a two-year card, and $75 for a three-year card.
- Receive Your Card: Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to access your caregiver card online, where you can either print or save a copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can get your Illinois MMJ card online. The state allows medical marijuana evaluations to be conducted via telemedicine.
The cost of your Illinois medical marijuana card will depend on the type of card you wish to obtain. The state's fee for a one-year card is $50, while a two-year card costs $100 and a three-year card costs $125. This does not include the cost of your doctor's evaluation.
Once your application for an Illinois MMJ card is approved, you’ll receive a temporary digital card via email within 24 hours. It can take up to 15 days for the state to issue your permanent card, which can also be accessed online.
No, anxiety is not listed as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Illinois.
Yes, minors can obtain medical marijuana in Illinois, but they require two doctors’ certifications, and a parent or legal guardian must agree to serve as their designated caregiver.
In Illinois, a medical marijuana cardholder can buy up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis over the course of a 14-day period. However, it’s possible for your doctor to recommend a higher amount if they deem it necessary.
Adults who're at least 21 years old can buy recreational marijuana in Illinois without a card, but you cannot purchase medical marijuana products without one.
In Illinois, medical marijuana patients are allowed to cultivate up to five cannabis plants at home. This cultivation must be done in an enclosed, locked space out of public view.
No, Illinois does not honor out-of-state medical cards.
Whether you can use your Illinois MMJ card in another state will depend on that state's reciprocity laws. Some states honor out-of-state medical cards, while others don't. Be sure to research other states' cannabis legislation before traveling.
Yes, Illinois is a recreational-use state. Adults aged 21 and over can legally purchase and possess cannabis.
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