Illinois Will Consider More Diseases For Medical Marijuana Coverage

By Kate Shepherd in News on Dec 15, 2015 5:22PM

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Only 39 medical conditions currently qualify patients for Illinois' medical marijuana pilot program, but residents will have a chance to petition for more to be included.

The Illinois Department of Public Health will start accepting petitions for new conditions on Jan. 1 through the end of the month, according to the AP.

The state's pilot program allows people to suggest new diseases in January and July. Then an advisory board reviews the ideas and makes recommendations.

The executive branch isn't obligated to listen to the board's recommendations. Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration rejected 11 new conditions that were recommended by the board this fall. The administration is set to make a decision about the board's next set of recommendations by Feb. 1.

There are 3,600 approved marijuana patients in Illinois. Medical marijuana went on sale in the state for the first time on Nov. 9 and Chicago's first dispensary started selling pot on Dec. 9.