Illinois

Under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act (410 ILCS 130) and Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Part 946, Section 946.300, a certifying health care professional who is currently licensed and in good standing in Illinois and holds a current valid controlled substances license under Article III of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act may issue a written certification for a qualifying patient.

Eligible certifying health care professionals include:

• Doctors of medicine (MD)
• Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with Full Practice Authority (APRN-FPA)
• Physician Assistants (PA)

To certify a patient, the health care professional must:

• Have a bona fide health care professional-patient relationship with the qualifying patient. This relationship may not exist solely for the purpose of issuing a written certification or conducting a consultation for that purpose only.
• Have ongoing responsibility for the care and treatment of the patient's debilitating condition. Ongoing care may not exist solely for the purpose of certifying a debilitating condition.
• Have completed an in-person full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition, including a personal physical examination, within 90 days prior to issuing the certification. The assessment must address symptoms, signs, and diagnostic testing related to the debilitating condition.
• Certify that the qualifying patient is under the certifying health care professional's care for the debilitating condition.
• Comply with generally accepted standards of health care practice and applicable state and federal rules, including HIPAA.

A written certification is not a prescription. It reflects the certifying health care professional's clinical judgment that the patient has a qualifying debilitating condition that may benefit from medical cannabis.

Additional guidelines for physicians and the certification forms can be found on the Medical Cannabis Health Care Professional Information.

Qualifying conditions include:

• Cancer
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Parkinson's disease
• ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
• Crohn's disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic pain
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Glaucoma
• Migraines
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Illinois recognizes more than 50 qualifying "debilitating medical conditions."  This list is updated periodically. For the complete and current list, visit the IDPH Medical Cannabis Program page.

Step 1: Evaluate the patient in person.

Confirm the patient has a qualifying debilitating condition. Under Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Section 946.300, an in-person full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition, including a personal physical examination, must be completed within 90 days prior to issuing the written certification. The assessment must address symptoms, signs, and diagnostic testing related to the debilitating condition. Telehealth evaluations do not satisfy this requirement.

Step 2: Submit the written certification through the IDPH portal.

Complete and submit the written certification electronically through the IDPH Health Care Professional portal. Do not give the certification to the patient. Once submitted, the patient will see your certification appear as a selectable option in their online application.

Step 3: Maintain records.

Document your evaluation and certification in the patient's medical record.

Additional guidelines for physicians and the certification forms can be found on the Medical Cannabis Health Care Professional Information. 

Patient Recertification

A health care professional's written certification is valid for up to three years from its creation date. When a patient's registry card approaches expiration and requires renewal, the certifying health care professional will receive a notification email from IDPH and must renew the certificate through the IDPH Health Care Professional portal. The renewal process requires a new in-person evaluation consistent with the requirements for an initial certification.

For step-by-step renewal instructions, visit the IDPH Renewing a Patient Certificate page.

Submit the written certification through the IDPH portal.

Complete and submit the written certification electronically through the IDPH Health Care Professional portal. Do not give the certification to the patient. Once submitted, the patient will see your certification appear as a selectable option in their online application.

Step 3: Maintain records.

Document your evaluation and certification in the patient's medical record.

• No doctor visit is required at the 1 or 2-year mark.
• The physician's original certification remains valid for the full 3 years.
• The patient simply submits an Extension Application online and pays the incremental state fee ($100 for 1 year, $200 for 2 years) to keep their registry card active. 

Medical professionals have a legal right to recommend cannabis as a treatment in any state, as protected by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Title III section 301) which became law on December 2, 2022, and the First Amendment (established by a 2004 United States Supreme Court decision to uphold earlier federal court rulings that doctors, and their patients have a fundamental Constitutional right to freely discuss treatment options).

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