In Illinois, medical marijuana cards dramatically reduce the amount of taxes you have to pay to purchase your cannabis for qualifying medical conditions. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to qualify, but adult caregivers of minors may also apply for a medical cannabis card in Illinois on the child’s behalf. In order to qualify for a medical marijuana license in IL to use and legally purchase medical marijuana (MMJ), you must fulfill the following qualifications:
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Be diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Illinois;
- Have consent from a physician;
- Be an Illinois state resident with proof of residency;
- Not hold a school bus permit or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); and
- Not be an active duty law enforcement officer or firefighter.
In addition, caregivers who want to use medical marijuana to treat a minor’s medical condition will need to submit a second physician’s recommendation to be considered for an Illinois medical cannabis card.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois
Step 1 – Get the Physician Certification Form
The first step to becoming a medicinal marijuana patient and receiving your medical marijuana card in Illinois is to meet with your doctor about medical cannabis. If they agree that medical marijuana is an option for you, they’ll need to go to the Illinois Cannabis Tracking System and complete the Health Care Professional area of the portal on your behalf.
Veterans receiving treatment at a federal Veterans Affairs (VA) facility may instead choose to submit their DD Form 214 to apply for a medical card in Illinois. This form certifies their release or discharge from active duty and one year of medical records from their VA facility.
Caregivers applying for an Illinois medical marijuana card for a minor will need to submit both the standard doctor’s certification form and a second physician’s recommendation using the forms below.
Step 2 – Fill Out the Medical Cannabis Patient Program (MCPP) Application
In order to complete the Illinois medical marijuana card online application process, you must complete the MCPP Patient Registration.
Once you and your doctor have successfully completed the MCPP application process, you should receive a provisional access card through your account that you created to submit the paperwork 24 hours after completion.
There is no online application for Illinois medical cannabis cards for caregivers. Instead, caregivers seeking medical marijuana cards in Illinois for minors will need to fill out a paper form and mail it in. Additional caregivers can be added at the time of the MMJ card application for an extra fee.
Step 3 – Choose a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Illinois
EarthMed Addison is one of only 55 marijuana dispensaries in Illinois licensed to sell medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana patients are no longer required to register with a specific marijuana dispensary at the time of their Illinois medical cannabis card application. As an MMJ patient in Illinois, you are able to visit any medical marijuana dispensary to purchase your cannabis without paying the state’s additional adult-use taxes. If you choose to buy medical marijuana from a recreational marijuana dispensary, you will be charged the additional taxes associated with your purchase.
Step 4 – Pay the Illinois Medical Marijuana Card Application Fee
To apply for a medical marijuana card in Illinois, there is a $50 fee for one year, $100 for two years, and $150 for three years. The Illinois medical cannabis card application fees are non-refundable and can be paid by credit or debit card on the Illinois medical marijuana card online application.
You may qualify for a 50% reduction on the Illinois medical cannabis card application fee if you are a veteran or receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The reduced fees for a medical marijuana card in Illinois are $25 for one year, $50 for two years, and $75 for three years. In order to qualify, you will need to upload either a copy of your Social Security Benefit Verification statement or your DD 214 veterans’ certification form.
For caregivers, the MMJ card application fees are lower still: $25 for one year, $50 for two years, and $75 for three years. Patients may designate up to three caregivers to be able to place and pick up medical cannabis orders on their behalf. An additional fee of $25 will be added to your Illinois medical cannabis card application fee for each extra designated caregiver.
Patients with terminal illnesses that have a life expectancy of six months or less can qualify for a six-month medical marijuana card in Illinois with no application fee.
Table of Fees by IL Medical Marijuana Card Application Type
| Application Type | 6-Month Fee | 1-Year Fee | 2-Year Fee | 3-Year Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | — | $50 | $100 | $125 |
| Reduced Fee | — | $25 | $50 | $75 |
| Caregivers’ Fee | — | $25 | $50 | $75 |
| Terminal Illness Fee | $0 | — | — | — |
Step 5 – Submit a Photo
In order to complete your Illinois medical marijuana card application, you will need to send a 2×2 inch passport photo. It is important to make sure this photo is taken with a solid colored background with nobody else in the photo with you. The easiest option is to visit your local passport photo service location and have them take your photo.
Minors are not required to submit a photo for their Illinois medical cannabis card.
If you decline to submit a photo for religious reasons, you may submit a photo affidavit, which will be reviewed by a committee for an acceptance decision. Download the Photo Affidavit Form.
Step 6 – Proof of Illinois Residency
Along with your IL medical marijuana card application and a photo, you will need to provide two forms of proof that you are an Illinois resident. Acceptable forms of proof include your driver’s license, voter card, bank statements, or utility bills with your name and address on them.
Step 7 – Proof of Age and Identity
To apply for a medical cannabis card in Illinois, you must also upload a photocopy of your government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID.
For more information on the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program and applying for an Illinois medical marijuana card, go to the State of Illinois’ Department of Public Health website.