Illinois Patients Rush To Apply For Medical Marijuana, only 12% submitted complete applications

The Huffington Post | By Kim Bellware | Oct 10, 2014

More than 6,000 people have already applied to use medical marijuana in Illinois -- but some patients may have signed up a little too quickly.

Only 800 of the 6,300 applications started with the state's Medical Cannabis Pilot Program -- about 12 percent -- are considered complete, state officials said Wednesday.

“We are encouraged to see people registering for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, which will provide patients much-needed relief from dozens of debilitating medical conditions,” Bob Morgan, statewide project coordinator for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, said in a statement. “We will continue to process applications so that registered patients and caregivers will have access to medical cannabis as soon as it becomes available.”

Applications must include documents like a doctor certification form and background check information. Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) officials say applicants whose registrations are incomplete will be notified by mail and given 21 days to hand in the required documents.

The most common debilitating conditions cited by prospective medical marijuana patients are cancer, severe fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, state officials said.

IDPH staff started sending approval and denial letters two weeks ago. Jim Champion, the first person to apply to be part of the state’s pilot program, already received the green light to enter the program to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis .

“I was shocked it came so fast,” the 48-year-old Army veteran told the Sun-Times. “I’m very excited.”

Though medical marijuana registry cards will soon be issued to approved patients, no dispensaries have yet opened in the state; officials expect medical marijuana to actually become available in early 2015, more than a year into the four-year pilot program.

Qualifying patients whose last names begin with A – L have until Oct. 31 to submit applications; patients whose last names begin with M - Z will be able to apply from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. Open enrollment, regardless of last name, begins Jan. 1 of 2015.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/10/illinois-medical-marijuana-applications_n_5964976.html?ir=Chicago

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OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2014

Patients Continue to Apply for Medical Cannabis Registration 

	SPRINGFIELD – Approximately 6,300 citizens have started the patient registration process for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program since the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) began accepting applications on September 2, 2014.  Of those, IDPH has received approximately 800 complete applications.  IDPH began issuing approval and denial letters two weeks ago. “We are encouraged to see people registering for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, which will provide patients much-needed relief from dozens of debilitating medical conditions,” said Bob Morgan, statewide project coordinator for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.  “We will continue to process applications so that registered patients and caregivers will have access to medical cannabis as soon as it becomes available.” The most frequent debilitating medical conditions physicians have certified include cancer, severe fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Applications are being accepted both electronically and through the mail. Qualifying patients whose last names begin with A – L have two months (September 2 – October 31) to submit their applications.  Patients whose last names begin with M – Z may submit an application from November 1– December 31.  Applications can be submitted electronically at https://medicalcannabispatients.illinois.gov/ , or sent to: Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Medical Cannabis 535 W. Jefferson Street Springfield, IL  62761-0001 Patients’ certifying physicians must send certification forms to the address above. Once IDPH receives a complete application, which includes the physician certification form and background check information, IDPH will issue approvals within 30 business days.  Registration cards will be mailed before dispensaries open.             Applicants who submit incomplete applications will be notified through the mail and given 21 days to submit any additional documents.  Patients who have been denied will be notified in writing as to why their application was denied. More information about the patient application process can be found online at http://mcpp.illinois.gov/ in theFrequently Asked Questions section.  For any questions regarding patient and caregiver registration, please contact the DPH Division of Medical Cannabis at (855) 636-3688 or DPH.MedicalCannabis@illinois.gov. http://www3.illinois.gov/pressreleases/pressreleaseslistshow.cfm?recnum=12700