“Qualifying patient” is a person who has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition.

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• Agitation of Alzheimer's disease

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Arnold-Chiari malformation and Syringomelia

• Cachexia/wasting syndrome

• Cancer

• Causalgia

• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

• Crohn's disease

• CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type II)

• Dystonia

• Fibromyalgia (severe)

• Fibrous dysplasia

• Glaucoma

• Hepatitis C

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• Hydrocephalus

• Interstitial Cystitis

• Lupus

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Muscular dystrophy

• Myasthenia Gravis

• Myoclonus

• Nail-patella syndrome

• Neurofibromatosis

• Parkinson's disease

• Post-concussion syndrome

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type I)

• Residual limb pain

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

• Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy (Starting January 1, 2015)

• Sjogren's syndrome

• Spinal cord disease, including, but not limited to, arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, hydromyelia, syringomyelia

• Spinal cord injury

• Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA)

• Tourette’s syndrome

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

An advocate is a “supporter, believer, sponsor, promoter, campaigner, backer, or spokesperson.” Our Patient Advocates are compassionate people who understand the benefits of medical marijuana and want to help patients get the relief they need from medical marijuana. Our advocates are here to assist qualifying patients with the application process for the “Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program” and to act as a liaison between the patients and our physicians. In addition, our advocates are available to answer questions about their rights as “registered patients” in Illinois, and to help them understand the pilot program and it’s many rules.

Our physician’s are there to confirm a diagnosis of a debilitating medical condition, as defined in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, for their patient. Our physicians thoroughly review every patient’s medical records and conduct a patient examination at the time of each visit. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, our physician will recommend a treatment plan for the symptoms relating to their debilitating condition. If the physician determines that their patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the use of medical marijuana, they will submit the Physician Written Certification Form to the Illinois Department Health, which is a requirement of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Qualifying Patient Registry Identification Card application.

A complete application must include:

·      A signed and completed application form

·      Proof of residency

·      Proof of identity

·      Proof of age

·      2X2 photograph of qualifying patient

·      UCIA fingerprint consent form

·      Designated caregiver information, if applicable

·      Excluded offense waiver, if applicable

·      Selection of medical cannabis dispensary zone

·      State’s application fee

The Healing Clinic will ensure that each one of our patients sends a complete application to the Department of Public Health. Our Patient Advocates will review their applications and assist them in completing and submitting all of the state requirements.

·      Annual qualifying patient application fee is $100

·      Annual qualifying patient reduced application fee is $50 (for veterans and patients enrolled in the federal SSDI or SSI disability programs)

·      Annual caregiver application fee is $25

The Illinois Department of Public Health has 30 business days to review complete applications from the date the Department receives them. The Department has 15 days after an application is approved to issue a marijuana patient registry identification card.

The Healing Clinic can request a status update from the Department of Public Health 35 days after the date you submit your application on behalf of the patient. Ask your Patient Advocate if you are interested in this free service.

The Illinois Medical Marijuana Act protects registered patients from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties if the patients engage in the medical use of marijuana. The Act also prohibits certain discriminatory practices, including:

·      “No school, employer, or landlord may refuse to enroll or lease to, or otherwise penalize, a person solely for his or her status as a registered qualifying patient or a registered designated caregiver”

·      “For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, a registered qualifying patient's authorized use of cannabis is considered the equivalent of the use of any other medication use at the direction of a physician, and may not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a qualifying patient from needed medical care”

·      “A person otherwise entitled to custody of or visitation or parenting time with a minor may not be denied that right, and there is no presumption of neglect or child endangerment, for conduct allowed under this Act”

·      “No school, landlord, or employer may be penalized or denied any benefit under State law for enrolling, leasing to, or employing a cardholder.”

Registry identification cards from the Illinois Department of Public Health are valid for one year from the date it is issued. You must reapply to the program at least 45 days before the expiration date of your existing registry identification card. The Healing Clinic will send annual reminders to patients when it is time to reapply and will handle the entire renewal application process.

No. Qualifying registered patients and their designated caregivers cannot grow or cultivate medical marijuana. Medical marijuana and marijuana-infused products must be purchased through a state licensed medical cannabis dispensary designated by the registered qualifying patient.

Registered qualifying patients and designated caregivers may possess up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana in a 14 day period from the dispensary the qualifying patient identified on their application.

If you feel as though the 2.5 ounces in a 14-day period is not a sufficient supply for your medical needs, you should notify your Patient Advocate. Your advocate will communicate with the doctor to get approval and submit the necessary paperwork to the Department of Public Health for their permission.

A designated caregiver is a person who is selected by a qualifying patient as the person authorized, on the patient’s behalf, to purchase, possess, dispense, and assist in the administration of medical marijuana. Caregivers are required to enroll in the program. Caregivers are issued a medical cannabis registry identification card, which allows them to possess up to 2.5 ounces on behalf of their patient. The Healing Clinic offers services to link patients with caregivers. Patients are not required to choose a designated caregiver.

Yes. The Healing Clinic patient records are kept secure on a cloud-based electronic medical records system. Our system is HIPAA compliant and The Healing Clinic will never disclose medical information or records without a patient’s consent. Records kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health are subject to federal privacy laws, are confidential, are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and are not subject to disclosure to any individual, public or private entity.