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IL Medical Marijuana Draft Rules Revealed

IL Marijuana Doctors

Illinois revealed the draft rules for its medical marijuana program this week which outline how the program will operate over the next four years.

The rules show that patients will have to have a qualifying condition diagnosed by a marijuana doctor, then undergo fingerprinting, a background check, and pay $150 a year for a medical marijuana card. Fingerprinting costs $30 to $60. Patients receiving Social Security disability income may have a lower fee of only $75 a year.

Caregivers for qualified medical marijuana patients will pay $125 a year for a card. Caregivers with cards can obtain marijuana from a licensed dispensary on behalf of their patient.

Based off of first-year experience in other medical marijuana states, officials decided to have patients apply in two waves (based on the first initial of their last names), to help manage the expected surge of applicants. The first applications will be on paper, future applications will be accepted online.

In 2014, patients whose last names begin with the letters A through L can submit an application during September or October; whereas, patients whose last names begin with M through Z can submit an application during November or December.

The rules for cultivation centers are still being drafted.

The official rules will be released later this year.

Read the Illinois Medical Marijuana Draft Rules here.