Under Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act [410 ILCS 130] (“Act”), an Illinois resident with a debilitating medical condition may obtain medical cannabis from an Illinois licensed dispensing organization if the person obtains a registry identification card from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) after obtaining certification of their debilitating medical condition from a certifying health care professional. On August 9, 2019, the Act was amended to expand the list of debilitating medical conditions to include:
- Autism
- Chronic pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraines
- Osteoarthritis
- Anorexia nervosa
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
- Neuropathy
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
The Act was also amended to allow advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to certify that a patient has a debilitating medical condition. Before the amendment, only a physician could make such certification. To reflect the change in the law, the IDPH updated its certification form for physicians which contains the new debilitating medical conditions and it is anticipated that it will be preparing certification forms for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants in the near future.
