Justice For Patients is a community based, non-profit organization that has been established to provide legal aid for registered cannabis patients and patient applicants in Illinois. Justice For Patients is meant to protect and defend the rights of patients who are confronted with legal and discriminatory issues associated with applying and/or registering for cannabis patient status. Justice For Patients also seeks to help those who could benefit from medical cannabis but may not qualify for the Illinois Pilot Program, because of a past felony conviction.
Justice For Patients provides assistance in the areas of employment, criminal and civil rights issues. Justice For Patients offers free legal clinics where attorney’s volunteer time to help those who would otherwise not be able to secure such advice or representation.
By nature, America is a litigious society, and while everyone has the same legal rights, attorneys are generally retained by someone to enforce or assert their rights. This is no issue for people with money, but for the low to average income person, civil rights are often compromised. Justice For Patients will reverse this trend by offering our help to those who need it.
Feliza Castro
Board Member
Ali Galib
Board Member
Lauren Blair
Board Member
Austin Goodman
Board Member
Justice For Patients hosts legal clinics for HR Managers, Personnel Directors, Chief People Officers and Corporate General Counsel. We also offer on-site private seminars for businesses!
Call 312-890-6113 today to book a private seminar for your organization or click the button below
Justice For Patients assists individuals in navigating the expungement process in the Illinois Circuit Court. Justice For Patients identifies clients by conducting surveys in the communities most affected by criminal history record information. The surveys also help Justice For Patients understand the unique challenges that individuals with felony criminal records encounter when registering for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. Following intake sessions, all requests for assistance with felony record expungement, IDPH appeals and Cannabis-related arrests will be reviewed by Justice For Patient’s volunteer attorneys, who will then the determine the best plan of action.
Justice For Patients works toward just outcomes for sick and suffering individuals who have had contact with the Illinois criminal justice system and are excluded from the medical cannabis program because of it. We are firm believers that every patient who suffers from one of the program’s qualifying conditions should be able to access to medical cannabis regardless of their criminal past. Unfortunately today, Illinois does not allow those with certain felony convictions, regardless of how old, to register for the program. Justice for patients is working hard to change that.
We are looking for employers willing to partner with Justice For Patients to develop and implement compassionate use and respectful workplace policies and practices for registered cannabis patients in Illinois. Contact us today if you are interested in working with us.
Under the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, employers are permitted to implement zero-tolerance rules, drug-free workplace policies and drug testing, and may discipline patients for violating these workplace rules. The Act, however, prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on a person’s status as a registered cannabis patient. Justice for Patients is dedicated to helping employers and employees navigate issues concerning medical cannabis use and the workplace. Justice for Patients educates registered cannabis patients and patient applicants on their rights and obligations in the workplace, and also can provide guidance on the process of filing a charge of employment discrimination with the appropriate governmental agencies. On the employer side, Justice For Patients hosts clinics for Human Resources Managers, Personnel Directors and Chief People Officers, and offers on-site training seminars for employers of all sizes.
Registered cannabis patients who are discharged from their employment for “misconduct” relating to medical cannabis use may face issues when applying for unemployment benefits. Employees discharged for “misconduct,” within the meaning of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act, typically are ineligible for unemployment benefits. Some employers have drug policies that restrict a registered cannabis patient’s use of medical cannabis outside of the course of employment. Such employer policies may be considered too broad because it restricts medical cannabis use outside of a place where the employee is reasonably expected to fulfill his or her duties and not while he or she is performing those duties. Justice for Patients helps registered cannabis patients understand their rights and responsibilities to unemployment benefits and navigate the appeal process with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Fees, Hours, and Contact Information
We are looking for employers willing to partner with Justice For Patients to develop and implement compassionate use and respectful workplace policies and practices for registered cannabis patients in Illinois.
