Medical Marijuana
In Illinois, it is now legal for people with lupus to get a prescription for Medical Marijuana.
Anyone receiving Medical Marijuana in Illinois will have to have a Qualifying Patient Registry Identification Card issued through the state of Illinois.
Applicants should discuss the use of medical cannabis with their treating physician before beginning an application. All applicants, except for Veterans receiving care at a VA facility, must have their physician submit a written certification for the use of medical cannabis.
Caregivers can also get apply for an ID card.
The fee for a Registry Identification Card is:
$25 for patients
$50 for caregivers
To qualify for a patient registry identification card, a qualifying patient must:
Be a resident of the State of Illinois at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program;
Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition; (Lupus is a qualifying medical condition)
Have a signed physician certification for the use of medical cannabis;
Complete the fingerprint-based background check and 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);
Be at least 18 years of age; Not hold a school bus permit or Commercial Driver’s License; and
Not be an active duty law enforcement officer, correctional officer, correctional probation officer, or firefighter.
To qualify for a designated caregiver identification card, a designated caregiver must:
Be a resident of the State of Illinois at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program;
Complete the fingerprint-based background check and 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);
Serve only one registered qualifying patient; and
Be at least 21 years of age
The application for the ID card is here.
The instructions for the caregiver application can be found online here.
There are several requirements for the application including a certificate from the treating physician. You can find out more about the physician information here.
And the actual certificate that needs to be completed by your treating physician is here.
When we called the State of Illinois, we were told that there are physicians who refuse to sign the certificate.
Once the patient receives the Qualifying Patient Registry Identification Card, no other prescriptions or certificates from their doctors are necessary to obtain marijuana. You will select a dispensary (here’s a link to that information)
When you talk with the dispensary, they will discuss the medical issues you are experiencing and will help determine what your needs are.
And here’s a link to the State of Illinois’ medical cannabis site:
If you have any questions, please contact the Lupus Navigator at 312-648-6053 or email [email protected].
