Exciting news for Illinois residents who may benefit from medical cannabis but are currently excluded from the very exclusive Illinois pilot program. Those interested may petition to the Illinois Department of Public Health to add debilitating medical conditions or diseases to those listed in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.

Here are answers to questions we are frequently asked by those interested in submitting a petition:

1. Each petition is limited to a single medical condition or disease.
2. Petitions will be accepted from January 1 through January 31, 2016. Petitions must be postmarked no later than January  that January 31. Petitions received outside of these dates will not be reviewed and will be returned.
3. Each petition must include:
   • The specific name and brief description of the proposed debilitating medical condition or disease, including any applicable ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnostic code(s)
   • The extent to which the debilitating medical condition or disease itself, and/or the treatments, cause severe suffering and impair a person’s daily life
   • A description of the conventional medical therapies, other than those that cause suffering, available to alleviate the suffering caused by the proposed debilitating medical condition or disease
   • A description of the proposed benefits from the medical use of cannabis specific to the proposed debilitating medical condition or disease
   • Evidence generally accepted by the medical community and other experts that the use of medical cannabis alleviates suffering caused by the debilitating medical disease and/or treatment (this includes but is not limited to full-text peer-reviewed published journals or other completed medical studies)
   • Letters of support for the use of medical cannabis from physicians and/or other licensed health care providers knowledgeable about the condition or disease, including, if applicable, a letter from the physician with whom the petitioner has a bona-fide physician-patient relationship along with any medical, testimonial, or scientific documentation
   • Each petition submission must include: The original petition with an original signature , Two paper copies and An electronic copy on a CD/DVD or flash drive
   • Petitions must be sent by certified U.S. mail to:
     • Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Medical Cannabis 535 W. Jefferson St. Springfield, IL 62761-0001

So what happens once the petitions are submitted?

Upon review of petitions, the Department of Public Health will determine whether:

1. The petition meets the standards for submission, otherwise, the petition will be denied. The Department will notify the petitioner who may correct any deficiencies and resubmit the petition during the next open period.
2. The petition meets the standards for submission and, if so, the Department will accept the petition for further review. If the petition is accepted, the Department will refer the petition to the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board for review. The Advisory Board has a minimum of 30 days to review the petitions before convening a public hearing to review all eligible petitions. After the public hearing, the Advisory Board will provide the Department Director recommendations for either the approval or denial of the petitioner’s request. The Department will approve or deny a petition within 180 days after its submission during the petition period. The petitioner may withdraw his or her petition by submitting a written statement to the Department indicating withdrawal, at any time prior to the date of the public hearing.

The Healing Clinic Advocates are here and happy to help patients submit acceptable petitions to the Department of Public Health. 
As of today, the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Illinois is much too 
limited. Our goal as an organization is to help expand that list so that thousands more may 
one day benefit from the Illinois medical cannabis program. 

Interested in submitting a petition? Call us today at 312-890-6113 for support and guidance in submitting a successful petition.