Medical marijuana is legal in Illinois thanks to the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. A patient must have a qualifying condition such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Crohn's Disease, or a condition that causes cachexia or chronic pain to qualify for medical marijuana.
The amount of cannabis prescribed by each patient's physician determines the possession limits for medical marijuana in Illinois. Patients are permitted to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis per 14-day period in general, though. If a patient's doctor has recommended a higher dosage, they may legally possess that amount.
Patients are not permitted to smoke cannabis in public places. They may only do so in their own homes. Employers are not required to accommodate medical marijuana use, and patients may be subjected to drug testing at work.
The state’s driving under the influence laws are strict. Namely, Illinois does not differentiate between medical patients and recreational users. Anyone with a THC level of 5 nanograms per millimeter of blood or higher is considered over the limit and can be charged with a DUI. Police look for delayed reaction times and bloodshot eyes during traffic stops when there is suspicion of DUI.
- Autism
- Agitation from Alzheimer’s disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Arnold-Chiari malformation
- Cancer
- Cachexia/wasting syndrome
- Causalgia
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II (CRPS)
- Dystonia
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydromyelia
- Interstitial cystitis
- IBS
- Lupus
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myoclonus
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Neuro-Bechet’s disease
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neuropathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Post-Concussion Syndrome
- PTSD
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Residual limb pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Seizures, including Epilepsy
- Severe fibromyalgia
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Spinal cord disease, including arachnoiditis
- Spinal cord injury
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
- Syringomyelia
- Tarlov cysts
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury
- Ulcerative colitis
Don’t Have a Qualifying Condition on This List?
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) does not grant waivers for medical cannabis cards for those with conditions that are not listed under its Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. However, they do accept petitions to add conditions each year from December 1 to December 31.
In addition, patients who could or have received opioids may qualify for medical marijuana under Illinois' Opioid Alternative Pilot Program.
Illinois Medical Marijuana Program
If you live in Illinois and want to apply for an Illinois medical marijuana card and join the state's Medical Cannabis Patient Program patient registry (MCPP), you must follow the government's application process.
The first step is to find the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program application on the Illinois Department of Public Health's website. Click on this link to access the application.
The second step is to fill out the application form. Include your full name, birth date, social security number, and current mailing address. A copy of your Illinois driver's license or state ID card will also be required. You'll need a doctor's certificate to submit the application, so make sure your doctor is willing and able to certify you as a patient.
The third step is to submit your online application to the Department of Public Health via the web. Make sure your application is complete and accurate before submitting it. You must pay a application fee for a new patient application and a renewal application.
A designated caregiver can apply for a medical cannabis card on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself or if you are a minor (under the age of 18).
If your application for a medical marijuana card is approved, the card you receive will be valid for one year from the date of that approval. You can buy, possess, and use medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary with that card.