Medical Cannabis Notifications and Updates

As required by the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is providing notice to the public of the annual period for submitting petitions for the addition of debilitating medical conditions to the list prescribed by Section 10 of the Act.  Beginning at 12:01AM December 1, 2021 and ending at 11:59PM December 31, 2021, IDPH will accept petitions on forms and in a manner prescribed by IDPH.  The forms and instructions will be made available at a later date.”

On Thursday, July 15, 2021, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1443 into law. This bill removed the requirement that medical cannabis patients select a single dispensary. Although the requirement to identify a single dispensary was temporarily lifted on June 25, 2021 following the go-live of the new Medical Cannabis Registry system, the signing of this bill into law makes that change permanent.

While the current online application still requires a dispensary selection, patients no longer need to use the online system to change dispensaries and you will be able to purchase cannabis at ANY medical cannabis dispensary regardless of which dispensary is identified in the online system. We are working to have that field removed soon. Medical patient quantity limits will continue to be enforced.

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for any issues patients experienced while we adopted the new system. We are actively working to fix any continuing problems and working hard to get back to everyone who contacted us. Thank you for your patience.

Questions may be emailed to – DPH.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov

Medical Cannabis Program representatives are available by phone at 1-855-636-3688 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is converting the existing Medical Cannabis Registry to a new system – Entellitrak. The conversion process will require the current system to go down beginning June 7, 2021. New applicants and current patients will not be able to access the online system to submit applications or change dispensaries until the new system is available on June 22, 2021. Patients whose cards will expire soon after the new system is in place on June 22, 2021 will receive auto-generated emails detailing the process for renewals and extensions.

Entellitrak is already being utilized for registrants in the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program. Conversion of the Medical Cannabis Registry system will allow for reduced fees, allowances for lifelong conditions, and the ability for patients to have three caregivers.

The new registry will allow patients to access their online account at any time to check status, submit demographic changes, and make payments using a credit card. Patients will also be able to print their own paper registry cards once approved, eliminating the wait time for a card to be mailed to them from a printing vendor.

The new registry is set to go live on June 22, 2021. Current active patients will receive an email prior to June 22, 2021 with information about where to find additional documentation about the new application procedures. Going forward, all communication from the registry will be through email. If an email address was not given with the current application or has changed and not been updated, these patients will not receive this information. When the new system is live, patients will be able to log in and update their email if necessary. Patients must also mark DPH.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov as safe email to reduce the possibility of system emails going to spam inboxes.

Questions may be emailed to – DPH.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov

Medical Cannabis Program representatives are available by phone at 1-855-636-3688 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

PA 098-0122 – enacted 1/1/2014

• Authorized Medical Cannabis Pilot Program; sunset 6/30/2018

PA 099-0775 – enacted 7/21/2014

• Added seizure disorders to the definition of “debilitating condition”
• Allows persons under age 18 to apply for a medical cannabis registration card

PA 099-519 – enacted 6/30/2016

• Extended the pilot program through June 30, 2020
• Added PTSD to the definition of “debilitating condition” and added a terminal illness eligibility category
• Established a three-year cycle for patient applications

PA 100-0660 – enacted 8/1/2018

• Ashley’s Law – Allows caregivers of minor registered patients to administer medical cannabis on school property

PA 100-1114 – enacted 8/28/2018

• Established the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program
• Provisional access to dispensaries for medical cannabis patient applicants
• Removed fingerprinting requirements and eliminated disqualifying criminal offenses
• Prohibits organizations from charging a fee to assist patients with application
• House Bill 2023 – sent to the Governor 7/12/2019
• Will make the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program (and OAPP) permanent
• Allows veterans receiving medical services at VA facilities to participate in OAPP
• Adds Physician Assistant (PA), Advance Practice Nurses (APN) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) to licensed professions which can issue a certification for medical cannabis for both OAPP and MCPP
• Adds new conditions - Autism, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, osteoarthritis, anorexia nervosa, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Neuro-Bechet’s Autoimmune Disease, neuropathy, polycystic kidney disease, superior canal dehiscence syndrome and expands Crohn’s disease to include ulcerative colitis
• Allows up to three (3) caregivers for adult patients and minor patients (launch date to be determined)
• Requires immediate dispensary changes for MCPP patients

P.A. 101-0027 – enacted 6/25/19

• Cannabis Regulations & Tax Act (Adult Use Recreational Marijuana) Program
• Allows registered medical cannabis patients to grow up to 5 cannabis plants for personal consumption

Senate Bill 0455 – sent to Governor on 6/19/19

• Amends Ashley’s Law
• Allows Illinois schools to allow a school nurse or school administrator to administer a medical cannabis-infused product to a registered minor qualifying patient
• Requires ISBE and IDPH to develop a training program for school nurses