In order to qualify for a medical cannabis card, a patient must:

• Be a resident of the State of Illinois
• Over 18 years of Age*
• Not have been convicted of an excluded offense
• a felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Cannabis Control Act or Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or similar provisions in a local ordinance or other jurisdiction, unless the Department waives such a conviction(s)
• Have a qualified debilitating condition certified by a qualified physician

The following are considered qualified debilitating conditions under Illinois law:

• Autism
• Agitation of 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
• CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
• 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

If you have a terminal illness, in addition to filling out the normal forms, you can submit a Terminal Illness Application.  This can expedite your application and get you care and access sooner.

Note: An incomplete application will be denied so make sure you submit a complete application in the 90 day time period. We recommend meeting with your doctor prior to beginning the application.

• Patient Application Form
• Physician Written Certification Form
• Your doctor must complete and send in this form. Your appointment must be within 90 days of submitting your application so please discuss with your doctor prior to submitting an application.
• Application Fee
• Proof of Residency
• Proof of age and identity
• Caregiver application*
• *Not required but allows caregivers to visit your dispensary on your behalf

A designated caregiver is a person who is selected by a qualifying patient as the person authorized, on the qualifying patient’s behalf, to obtain medical cannabis from a certified dispensary. Caregivers must complete the caregiver application. A designated caregiver is issued a medical cannabis registry identification card that allows him/her to possess up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis on behalf of their patient. It is not legal for caregivers to consume medical cannabis that has been dispensed on behalf of a registered qualifying patient.

A patient may have up to three caregivers at one time.

If you are under 18 years old you can still become a registered medical cannabis patient in Illinois. To qualify you must:

• Be a resident of the state of Illinois
• Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition
• Submit the following forms:
• Application for Registry Identification Form
• Reviewing Physician Written Certification Form
• Physician Written Certification Form

Designated caregivers of patients under 18 years of age may only purchase medical cannabis-infused products. Other types of products, like flower and prerolls, are not allowed.

A veteran who has received treatment at a VA hospital is deemed to have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with a VA physician if the patient has been seen for his or her debilitating condition at the VA hospital in accordance with the VA hospital protocols.

To qualify for a patient registry card, a veteran must:

• Be an Illinois resident and provide two valid items proving residency.
• Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition.
• Provide a copy of his or her U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official hospital medical records requested on VA form 10-5345. If you have received care for your debilitating medical condition for more than 5 years at a VA facility, you must mark “OTHER” on VA Form 10-5345 under “INFORMATION REQUESTED” then specify that you are requesting information about the treatment of your debilitating medical condition for the most recent 12-month period. Under “PURPOSE(S) OR NEED FOR WHICH THE INFORMATION IS TO BE — USED BY INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE RELEASED” write “personal medical purposes.” Under “NAME AND ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION, INDIVIDUAL OR TITLE OF INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE RELEASED” write your address. Once you receive your official medical records, you must submit the medical records with your application.
• Provide a copy of his or her DD214 or equivalent certified document indicating character and dates of service.
• Not have been convicted of an excluded offense.
• Submit a non-refundable application fee with the signed Registry Identification Card Application to the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Medical Cannabis.

Note: This is only the list of fees from the State of Illinois. Other fees, such as doctors visits may also occur. View most current fees here at dph.illinois.gov

• $100 for a one year registry card, $200 for a two year registry card and $250 for a 3 year registry card. 

• For the reduced fees: $50 for a one year registry card, $100 for a 2 year registry card and $125 for a 3 year registry card.

• For qualifying patients enrolled in the federal Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or the Supplement Security Income (SSI) disability programs, submit a copy of a letter or other documentation form the Social Security Administration identifying the qualifying patient and showing the amount of monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits to be received by the qualifying patient during the current year of application. – Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214.
• Annual caregiver application fee is: 1 year @ $25, 2 years for $50, and 3 years for $75
• Replacement card fee is $25
• Returned check fee is $35

If your medical cannabis registry card will expire between 10/30/20 and 4/30/21, you should automatically receive a new card in the mail. The new card will add an additional year to the card term length without the need to extend or renew your card through renewal application and payment.

For more information, please refer to the State of Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program eLicense System homepage. You can reach out to directly to the state with any questions at [email protected]

When your card is ready for extension or recertification, IDPH will mail a courtesy reminder. Once you’ve received the letter, visit the State of Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program eLicense System and click “Renew HERE” to begin the process.

Dispensary transfers are now handled within about an hour, vs the usual 24 hours! View the December 2019 IDPH update for more details. Click here for help switching dispensaries.

We do not refer doctors, but we can provide a list of doctors in our area that other patients have used. Send us a message to get started.