Is Weed Legal in Illinois? Cannabis Legalization Guide (Updated – 2023)

In 2013, Illinois launched its comprehensive Medical Cannabis Patient Program, which lets people diagnosed with debilitating medical conditions with cannabis or marijuana. After passing the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, Illinois became the eleventh state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana.

Illinois Marijuana Legalization

Illinois passed the Cannabis Control Act in 1978, which allows medical marijuana. However, to launch or make regulations for this act, support from two state departments was required, i.e., Human Services and the State Police. But none of them took any action, and the cannabis control act was lost in silence.

Finally, In August 2013, Illinois passed the compassionate use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act in 2013 (MCPP), which would take effect on January 1, making it the 20th state of the USA. This bill legalized the use of medical cannabis but with tightly controlled circumstances. To make MCPP a successful state take the help of the departments of Public Health (DPH), Agriculture, and Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to compose necessary rules and regulations for the Illinois medical marijuana card.

In 2016, Illinois decriminalized marijuana possession, reducing punishment for those caught under 10 grams of cannabis to a $100–200 fine instead of prison. The law also sets the requirement for driving at five nanograms/ml of THC in the blood while intoxicated.

On March 22, 2017, Illinois proposed legalizing the recreational use of cannabis in the state. It would also allow residents to possess up to 1 ounce or 28 grams of cannabis and to grow five marijuana plants.

On May 31, 2019, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to legalize the recreational use of marijuana starting on January 1, 2020. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill on June 25, 2019. After the sign, Illinois became the 11th state in the US to allow recreational marijuana.

As of October 2020, over 143,000 qualifying patients participated in the state’s medical cannabis and opioid alternative programs.

Where Is It Safe To Consume Marijuana In Illinois?

You can smoke weed in your home, and you can also smoke in tobacco retailers and weed dispensaries that allow it. You cannot smoke weed in the following places:

• Public places (any place others could observe you);
• In any motor vehicle
• Near anyone under the age of 21
• On school grounds
• Any place where smoking is prohibited
• People who live in public housing.

Possession Limit of Marijuana in Illinois

Patients with Illinois medical marijuana cards may possess up to 2.5 ounces or 71 grams of marijuana products in 14 days. Patients can possess more but have to obtain a recommendation from their doctor, which states that they need more marijuana to alleviate their symptoms. A patient can transport cannabis inside secure, sealed containers that are inaccessible while driving.

Caregivers can possess or purchase medical marijuana for their designated patient only. Adults can give away marijuana to anyone over 21, provided no payment exchange.
The possession limits for Illinois residents over the age of 21 are:

• 30 grams of raw cannabis flower
• 5 grams of cannabis concentrates
• 500 milligrams of THC in edibles (100mg max each).

If you are not a local, then your possession limit is exactly half the limit for Illinois residents.

Medical Marijuana Registry in Illinois

The state accounts for the entire medical marijuana program named MCPP(Medical Cannabis Patient Program). Once the patient gets a recommendation letter from the state, the patient can register with the state for the Illinois medical marijuana card. Complete Illinois’s medical cannabis application online form. This form requires prospective patients to choose the dispensary they want to visit and designate a caregiver. After that, pay an application fee. Patients can choose one, two, or three-year card plans and pay accordingly. Rates are reduced for veterans’ status, but they must send 12 months of medical records in place of a physician’s written certification.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Cannabis in Illinois

As described by the state, the MCPP came up with the selected medical conditions that can require Illinois medical marijuana cards. Following is the list of Illinois qualifying medical conditions for which the patient can have marijuana on the doctor’s recommendation.

• Autism
• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer
• Cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease
• CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neuropathy
• Osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Seizures (including those characteristics of Epilepsy)
• Traumatic brain injury

Did you not find your medical conditions on the list? Don’t worry. Contact My MMJ Doctor. We can help you to treat your medical conditions with medical marijuana.

How To Get Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois

Getting an Illinois medical marijuana card is a trouble-free and uncomplicated process that only includes the following steps.

• Book your appointment with the My MMJ Doctor
  Book your appointment with My MMJ Doctor. We have a team of licensed medical health professionals.
• At the appointment
  Once you submit the form, a licensed medical health professional will connect at your mentioned time via an audio or video call and examine your medical conditions. If your illness qualifies for marijuana treatment, the mental health professional will write you a medical marijuana recommendation letter.
• Register with the state
  After receiving the recommendation letter, you need to register with the MCPP. To continue the process, you have to pay the application fee to them to verify and deliver your MMJ card. To get early access to medical marijuana, download a temporary card and hit the state-licensed dispensaries. Once the MCPP approves the application, you will receive a digital copy of the card, so download it and print it.

Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Illinois

In Illinois, a caregiver can assist the registered qualifying patient who is seriously ill, injured, or disabled mentally, physically, or both. Caregivers can help with the use and purchase of medical cannabis. To qualify for a designated caregiver identification card, an individual must:

• Must be a resident of Illinois and remain a resident during the card’s validity.
• Can serve only one patient
• Be at least 21 years of ageThe registered designated caregiver cannot:
• Serve more than one registered patient;
• Use medical cannabis
• Grow, possess, or distribute medical cannabis
• Possess and purchase more than the maximum amount of medical cannabis

Does Illinois Allow reciprocity?

No, Illinois doesn’t accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards. Therefore, even if you are a legal, medical marijuana cardholder of another state, Illinois still won’t consider you a marijuana user. However, adults over 21 can purchase cannabis at a dispensary and possess half of the amount set for medical marijuana patients.

Bottom Line

Patients in Illinois can effectively use marijuana to treat their medical concerns. However, a patient must get an Illinois medical marijuana card to access cannabis from medical dispensaries. But the first patient needs to obtain a recommendation letter. It is essential to obtain it from a reliable source like My MMJ Doctor and follow all the laws to continue with the benefits of getting a medical card.