Updated on May 5, 2020. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Joseph Rosado, MD, M.B.A, Chief Medical Officer
Illinois Medical Marijuana Card
In order to be afforded legal protection of the Illinois Medical Marijuana law, qualified medical marijuana patients must register with the state patient registry and possess a valid identification card by submitting a marijuana card application, to the Department of Consumer Protection.
Patients who apply for a Medical Cannabis Registry Card on-line will receive provisional access to a licensed dispensary within 24 hours of completing the application process. Qualifying patients who submit a paper application do NOT receive a provisional (temporary) registry card.
Due to the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, you will not be required to extend or renew your cards through renewal application and payment. You will receive new cards in the mail within which will add an additional year to the card term length. This is a temporary measure which may be subject to change.
* Please note: Illinois patients and caregivers are strictly prohibited from cultivating cannabis.
Qualified registered Illinois patients, may legally possess an “adequate” supply of medical marijuana. The state law defines an “adequate supply” specifically, as “2.5 ounces of usable cannabis during a period of 14 days, derived solely from an intrastate source”.
The Illinois Medical Marijuana law requires you to register with the Illinois Department of Public Health if you need to use medical marijuana. To qualify, however, you’ll need proof you’ve been diagnosed with one of the state’s qualifying conditions. This diagnosis must be determined by a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine in Illinois.
Why You Need an Illinois Marijuana Card
You can’t access marijuana legally in Illinois without a state-issued ID card. This card is the only documentation that will allow you to purchase or possess marijuana without being arrested by law enforcement.
To register for the Illinois Marijuana Card, your physician will need to provide documentation indicating you’ve been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition or a terminal illness for which medical marijuana is recommended as treatment. If the latter, the illness must have a short prognosis of six months or less.
Not all doctors are familiar with the research behind medical marijuana and its positive health benefits. This means you’ll need to find a doctor who understands cannabis and can offer you expert advice on how it might help your condition.
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Illinois Medical Marijuana Card
An Illinois medical marijuana card is a form of personal patient identification that is issued by the state’s Department of Health or watchdog organization, that is responsible for qualifying a patient, personal caregiver, or dispensary agent.
This Illinois medical marijuana card shall verify that a medical practitioner has provided a written form of certification to the qualifying patient and that the patient has designated the individual as a personal caregiver, or that a medical treatment center has met the terms of the law.
An Illinois marijuana card shall identify to the state’s department and law enforcement, that individuals are exempt from any Illinois criminal and civil penalties, for conduct pursuant to the medical use of marijuana.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois
- Patients must be a resident of Illinois with proof of residency and must remain a resident while in the Medical Cannabis Program.
- Patients must be at least 18 years of age.
- To qualify for an Illinois medical marijuana card, a patient must be diagnosed by a physician as having one of the following debilitating medical conditions that is specifically identified under state law:
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Arnold-Chiari Malformation, Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Causalgia, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Crohn’s Disease, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – Type II (CRPS II), Dystonia, Fibrous Dysplasia, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, Hydrocephalus, Hydromyelia, Interstitial Cystitis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myoclonus, Nail-Patella Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Opioid Dependence, Parkinson’s Disease, 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, Syringomyelia, Tarlov Cysts, Terminal Illness, Tourette Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Obtain a signed certification from a qualified physician where a relationship was established in-person at a physician’s office, hospital or other healthcare facility. (Unless under care at a Veteran Administration (VA) Facility, instead, 12 months of VA records must be submitted with application).
- Submit Application and pay associated Application Fees (for Patient and/or Caregiver) for Patient Registry to receive Registry Identification Card.
Patients can not hold a School Bus Permit, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or be an active duty Law Enforcement Officer, Correctional Probation Officer or Firefighter.
Illinois Patient Registry Application Fees: $100 – One-Year Registry Card, $200 – Two-year Registry Card or $250 – Three-Year Registry Card.
Application Fees are reduced for persons enrolled in federal Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs with a “Benefit Verification Letter” from the Social Security Administration (Letter must be dated within the last year and must show Patient’s Name, Address & Type of Benefits Received).
- $50 – One-Year Registry Card, $100 – Two-Year Registry Card or $125 – Three-Year Registry Card
Veterans who receive health services from Veteran’s Administration (VA) Facilities are not required to obtain a written certification from a physician, but can instead submit 12 months of VA records along with their application.
Application Fees (Designated Caregivers): $25 – One-Year Registry Card, $50 – Two-Year Registry Card or $75 – Separate Caregiver Application (Previously Registered Patient)
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Medical Cannabis
535 W. Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
Phone: (855) 636-3688
Email: DPH.MedicalCannabis@illinois.gov
Website: Illinois Medical Cannabis Program
Free Help Completing Applications Is Available Through Illinois Local Health Departments here.
