How to Obtain Your Medical Cannabis Card
The Illinois Department of Public Health issues the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Identification Card. In order to be issued a card, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in Illinois when you submit your application and remain a resident while participating in the program
- Have a debilitating medical condition that meets program qualifications
- Have a certification form signed by a physician (this requirement is waived if you are a veteran being treated at a VA facility)
- Not hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or a school bus permit
- Not be an active duty law enforcement officer, firefighter, correctional officer or correctional probation officer
Please note that your physician must complete the Physician Written Certification Form and give it back to you so that you can include it with your application. Scan the form and save it as a .pdf file to submit it with your online application, or include the original document with your paper application. The form must indicate that you have had an in-person office visit within the last 90 days.
Application for Qualifying Patient Registry Identification Card
Free Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Application Assistance
If you need help filling out your application for an Illinois medical cannabis registry card, the Illinois Department of Public Health is partnering with certified local health departments (LHD) around the state to provide free assistance, including with renewal applications and extensions for the Medical Cannabis Registry Program. There is no charge for this assistance. However, registration fees and costs associated with other requirements (passport photo, etc.) are the responsibility of the applicant.
What Is a Debilitating Condition?
In order to qualify for the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry program in Illinois, you must be diagnosed with a debilitating condition as defined in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.
These conditions are listed below. However, please note that the State of Illinois updates this list periodically. View the most current list of debilitating conditions.
- 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
“Bedford Grow continuously goes above and beyond to produce only the highest quality medicinal-grade products in Illinois. An expansive seed bank provides a wide variety of products, cannabinoids, and terpenes, which allow consumers autonomy in improving their quality of life through naturally better health. Medical Patients and Adult Users alike, Bedford Grow has something to offer.”
Tessa Hoffman, Medical Cannabis Patient — Illinois
Promising Treatments for Many Conditions and Symptoms
Cannabis in its different forms can be used today to treat a variety of medical conditions and symptoms. Below are a few examples:
Cancer
Symptoms treated by medical cannabis:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Pain
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
Recommended medical cannabis:
- 1:1 ratio THC:CBD products
- Extracts and tinctures
Fibromyalgia
Symptoms treated by medical cannabis:
- Chronic pain
- Stiffness
- Muscle spasms
- Insomnia
Recommended medical cannabis:
- High CBD products
- High cannabigerol (CBG) products
- Terpenes: Myrcene
Muscular Dystrophy
Symptoms treated by medical cannabis:
- Pain
- Stiffness
Recommended medical cannabis:
- High CBD products
- Topicals: salves and ointments
In addition, studies are underway around the world to better understand the potential cannabis has to address the symptoms of other conditions. Learn more at clinicaltrials.gov.