Get an Illinois Medical Marijuana Card.

Congrats on getting your medical certification! You’re almost there, but there are a few more steps to complete to get your Illinois Medical Marijuana Card. Let’s dive in!

• Before You Start: What You’ll Need
  • A credit or debit card for payment
  • A valid photo ID
• Complete Application:  Complete the state side of the application process by registering with the Illinois Cannabis Tracking System. Your ‘Health Care Professional Certification’ number will take up to 24–48 hours to appear.
• Submit Payment: Immediately after submitting payment to the state, you will be directed back to the “Patient Registration” tab. Your status will show “SOS Check” until your card is ready.
• Start Shopping: You can access your provisional letter within 48 hours and use that to shop. (Click on Initial Application under “Tracking Inbox” and you will see “Provisional Letter” to print out and use.)

The process for renewing your medical marijuana card in Illinois is almost identical to when you apply for the first time—except you’ll save time by already having a Leafwell account. You’ll still talk with a Leafwell provider, apply to the State of Illinois for marijuana treatment, and repeat all steps through the state website to renew your card for medical marijuana in Illinois. You can read a step-by-step breakdown of renewing through the Illinois medical marijuana program on our Illinois renewal page.

Possession Limits: An Illinois resident with a medical cannabis card can possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis per 14-day period. With a waiver from a doctor, this limit can be increased.

Participants in the adult-use market who are Illinois residents are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of cannabis concentrates, or up to 500 mg of THC in infused cannabis products.

For non-residents, the possession limit is decreased to 15 grams of cannabis flower, 2.5 grams of cannabis concentrate, and no more than 250 milligrams of THC content in infused cannabis products.

Recreational Use is Legal: Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2019 with the passing of HB 1438.

Employee Protections: Medical cannabis card holders are afforded some employee protection

• An individual is ineligible for a medical card if they are:
  • An active duty law enforcement officer
  • A correctional officer
  • A correctional probation officer
  • A firefighter
  • An active school bus permit holder or commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder.
• Illinois medical cannabis patients only pay the state sales tax of 6.25% and local taxes of up to 3.5%.

Cultivation Legal for Medical Patients: Cultivating cannabis in Illinois is only legal for those with a medical cannabis card who are over 21 years old. Registered medical marijuana patients can grow up to five mature plants at a time. Cannabis plants must be cultivated in a secure place out of the public view.

Delta-8 and CBD: Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, all derivatives and cannabinoids of the hemp plant are also legal in Illinois, including CBD, delta-8, delta-10 THC, and more. They are not further regulated in the state of Illinois.

Patients under 18 or those unable to manage medical cannabis themselves may select a designated caregiver to assist with the patient’s use of medical marijuana.

Caregivers must apply for a registry ID card online through the state of Illinois’ online application portal or by completing and submitting a printed application, available online.

Registry ID cards for caregivers are valid for up to three years, and the card fee varies depending on the length of the card and whether your patient already has an active medical marijuana card.

As of 2018, Ashley’s Law allows minor patient cardholders access to medical marijuana-infused products at school or on a school bus. Only a registered caregiver may administer these products to the student. Must be 21 years or older.

Caregivers must:

• Agree to assist with a patient’s medical use of cannabis
• Keep their registry identification card in his or her possession at all times when engaging in the medical use of cannabis.
• Not been convicted of an excluded offense.
• Have one registered qualifying patient.

Illinois does not have medical marijuana reciprocity, which means you cannot use another state’s medical marijuana card in Illinois. However, anyone over 21 can legally purchase marijuana products in the state.

That said, other states and territories recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. Your Illinois medical cannabis card can be recognized/used in:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

Minor patients will require a caregiver, at least one being a biological parent or legal guardian.

Minor Patient Requirements:

• A minor qualifying patient needs (2) doctor recommendations, a HCP Certification and a Reviewing HCP Certification.
• A qualifying patient under 18 years of age may identify up to three designated caregivers, at least one caregiver must be the biological parent or legal guardian. One caregiver is included at no charge in the application for a minor.
• Minor qualifying patients do not need to submit a photo.
• Designated caregivers of registered qualifying patients under 18 years of age may only purchase medical cannabis-infused products from registered dispensing organizations; other types of medical cannabis products are not allowed.
• Minor Patients Cards are valid until they expire, REGARDLESS if the patient is 18, 19, or 20 years of age. If the patient wishes to use the current card until the expiration date, they can. If they would like an adult card, instructions can be found here