Illinois medical cannabis program becomes permanent

Illinois« medical cannabis program has just been made permanent by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The medical cannabis law, signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013, was set to expire next year. The program was initially limited to six years. Indeed, lawmakers had made it a »pilot project" to test the concept and work out any kinks. But now that recreational cannabis will be legal in January, legislators say it makes sense to permanently authorize medical cannabis sales as well.

At a press conference in Springfield, Pritzker said the legislation «aligns our medical cannabis program with my administration's vision for equity, and makes adjustments to what we've learned since the project began.».

The governor also signed two laws extending the number of people who can obtain a medical card, and when they can use it. People with eleven new medical conditions are now eligible to obtain a medical card. The measure, which went into effect Friday, now gives access to the medical cannabis program to Illinois citizens diagnosed with chronic pain, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, osteoarthritis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autoimmune Neuro-Behcet's disease, neuropathy, and polycystic kidney disease dehiscence syndrome.

The governor also signed a related bill on Monday. Schoolchildren enrolled in the medical cannabis program will also be able to take it themselves at school, with prior parental consent, under the supervision of a nurse or administrator. Illinois has allowed children enrolled in the medical cannabis program to take their medication at school last year. The bill, dubbed «Ashley's Law», is named after Ashley Surin, who uses cannabis oil to control her epileptic seizures. The law will also authorize medical assistants and nurses to recommend medical cannabis to their patients,

As of July 31, 2019, there were 80,035 patients treated with medical cannabis in Illinois.