Details About the Medical Marijuana Patient Process

Illinois residents with certain health ailments and symptoms are eligible to become medical cannabis patients. To start the process, eligible patients must have a valid certification from a qualified physician, APRN-FPA, APN, or physician assistant, denoting their qualifying condition. Health certifications must be renewed and updated with the MCPP or OAPP once every three years or sooner, depending on the expiration date listed on their medical cannabis registry cards.
Patients with terminal or severe qualifying medical conditions that are expected to be lifelong impairments may circumvent the three-year certification renewal requirement if their certifying medical provider indicates on their certification documents that their condition is lifelong. Medical cannabis registry and opioid alternative pilot program, patients with certified lifelong conditions are not required to undergo repeat/renewing certifications.

Patients must see an approved medical physician or provider for a formal diagnosis and medical cannabis recommendation to start the online application process. Patients do not need to do anything until their doctor or advanced nurse practitioner submits their certification online. The last step of the process is for patients to complete their registration and submit payment online.

Minor Medical Cannabis Registry Patients

Minors or anyone younger than 18 years old meeting the criteria for medical cannabis may qualify for a single or multi-year medical marijuana registry card. They must have one guardian or parent as their designated caregiver. Minor patients are allowed a maximum of three caregivers at any given time. The first caregiver is free to add; there is a fee to add additional caregivers.

Medical Cannabis and Professional Exclusions

The Illinois Department of Health prohibits the following professionals from registering with the MCPP and using medical cannabis.

• School Bus Drivers With Active Permits
• Correctional Officers
• Firefighters
• Active Duty Law Enforcement Officers
• Professionals With Active CDLs

Illinois no longer provides physical medical cannabis registry cards. Patients can view, make changes, and print a paper copy to use at any state-licensed medical marijuana across Illinois.

Medical marijuana provider health certifications expire after 90 days from the date of examination. MCPP patients must attend all follow-up appointments with their healthcare providers. Failure to comply with healthcare and treatment recommendations will result in medical cannabis registry card forfeiture.*

Locate Illinois Dispensaries

Illinois patients with valid marijuana registry certifications can purchase medical cannabis products from any of the state’s 54 active cannabis dispensaries. Patients can use our Illinois dispensary locator to find the closest dispensary near them.

FAQs About Medical Marijuana Certifications in Illinois

Many potential and renewing patients find the medical marijuana certification process daunting and confusing. We’re here to help make the process as quick as possible to prevent delays in cannabis treatment. Please review the following questions for answers to some common concerns we receive about marijuana certifications in Illinois.

How to Find a Reputable MMJ Physician in IL

Marijuana Doctors specializes in connecting patients to qualified medical cannabis doctors. We maintain a nationwide database of professionals who offer medical marijuana evaluations, recommendations, and certifications in states with active medical cannabis programs for patients. We are also a trusted resource for recreational users.

Get started today. Use our Find a Doctor Locator to find licensed medical marijuana-friendly physicians anywhere in Illinois.

How Much Medical Cannabis Are Illinois Patients Allowed?

Registered medical cannabis patients with valid registry cards can purchase up to the adequate supply limit every 14 days from any state-licensed medical cannabis facility across Illinois. The amount currently allowed for the adequate supply limit is 2.5 ounces.

Some medical cannabis patients may require more than the standard limit to manage their symptoms or health condition. Patients with documented need to increase their allotted amount of medical cannabis must have their certifying medical provider submit an online waiver to the MCPP for a medical cannabis allotment increase.

The waiver must provide a bonafide medical reason supporting the waiver request and must not be the patient’s qualifying condition. Approved medical cannabis amounts are updated on the patient’s registry card.

Medical patients in Illinois can purchase and use marijuana in flower, oil, tincture, topical, concentrate, and edible forms. They can purchase any combination of medical cannabis from state-approved dispensaries as long as they do not exceed their 14-day adequate supply limit.

Is Recreational Marijuana Use Allowed in Illinois?

Adults 21 years old and up without medical certifications or registry cards can use marijuana recreationally. Valid state identification is required to purchase cannabis from Illinois dispensaries. The recreational limit for adults in Illinois is as follows:

• 30 grams of marijuana flower or raw cannabis plants
• 500 milligrams of THC edibles
• 5 grams of marijuana concentrates

Nonresidents and Illinois state visitors without valid Illinois identification are prohibited from purchasing more than 15 grams of cannabis flower, 2.5 milligrams of marijuana concentrates, and 250 milligrams of THC edibles.

What Is a Caregiver?

Anyone assisting qualified medical patients in purchasing, administering, or transporting cannabis must be a licensed caregiver. To apply, applicants must be no younger than 21 years old, able to prove they meet state residency requirements, and undergo a fingerprint criminal background check. Their application must also include a passport-style photo and the necessary caregiver fee. Caregivers are not prohibited from being medical marijuana patients in Illinois.

Do Illinois Dispensaries Accept Out-of-State Patients?

Illinois is not a reciprocity state and does not legally recognize out-of-state medical cannabis cards. Nonresident cardholders are subject to recreational limits. However, many other states with active medical marijuana programs allow Illinois medical cannabis patients to visit dispensaries to procure medicinal cannabis products.

Can Medical Cannabis Patients Cultivate Marijuana Plants?

Patients with active medical cards can grow or possess up to five mature cannabis plants at their residence at any time. Recreational cannabis cultivation is prohibited.

Talk to a Doctor

Getting a medical marijuana certification in Illinois is easy with Marijuana Doctors. Contact us to get started on your medical cannabis journey today!