Medical marijuana cards are government-issued ID cards that allow individuals with doctors’ recommendations to acquire, store, use, or grow cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Per Illinois' Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (HB1438-SFA2), anyone who wants to use marijuana may do so, as long as they are at least 21 years old. Therefore, many people have to decide whether getting a medical marijuana card is worth the trouble. However, having an MMJ card allows you to access more cannabis than the average user and gives you access to a broader range of stock. An MMJ card also provides you with guaranteed supply at a dispensary, which can come in handy when your favorite strain is in short supply.
Illinois refers to its medical marijuana card as MCPP Registry Card. MCPP, or Medical Cannabis Patient Program, is the state’s medical marijuana program.
Not everyone can obtain Illinois medical marijuana cards. The state will not issue MMJ cards to you if:
If you want to obtain an MMJ card in Illinois, you must ensure that your physician signs a notice allowing you to get one.
Per Ashley's Law, the state of Illinois allows parents or primary caregivers to obtain medical marijuana cards for minors. Designated caregivers must have a health care professional certification. Parents, however, must apply for MMIC cards as caregivers and may only purchase THC-infused products for their children.
Illinois issues medical marijuana cards to individuals who need marijuana for life-altering health conditions. The list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment include:
If you need to apply for a medical marijuana card in Illinois, there are two ways to do this: online or by mail. However, before deciding how to apply for a medical marijuana card, you must meet with a licensed doctor to determine if you are qualified to consume medical marijuana. If the doctor is willing to prescribe medical marijuana, they must fill out a Physician Written Certification Form and sign it. Parents or caregivers applying on behalf of minors must get a doctor to sign this certification form and a Reviewing Health Care Professional Written Certification Form for Qualifying Patients Under 18 Years of Age.
Once you have the doctor's certification form, you can apply to be a medical marijuana patient. If you are an adult, you may fill out an online medical cannabis patient form. Illinois no longer accepts mail-in requests for adult medical marijuana cards. Parents or caregivers applying for minors must complete an IL Designated Caregiver Registry Identification Card Form and mail it to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Medical Cannabis
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
Applicants must provide 2×2 inch passport photos of themselves. All photographs must have a solid colored background with nobody else in the image but the applicant. You must also provide a replica of your state-issued ID that shows you are above 18 years old and a utility bill or bank statement with your name on it. Illinois medical marijuana cards cost $50, $100, or $125 if valid for one, two, or three years.
Illinois does not mail medical marijuana cards to successful applicants. Approved patients can simply download and print their cards from their patient accounts set up during the application process.
MMICs (medical marijuana identification cards) are official identification cards that allow the bearers to purchase medical marijuana in Illinois. Medical marijuana dispensaries in the state are bound to sell cannabis only to people with medical marijuana identification cards. These cards are available to patients and official primary caregivers. Adult patients may obtain their MMIC using the above-listed steps. However, primary caregivers must follow a different process as they do not request cannabis for themselves but for persons that require assistance.
Before applying for an Illinois MMIC, a caregiver must:
If you qualify and wish to apply for an Illinois MMIC as a primary caregiver, you must complete an Application for a Designated Caregiver Registry Identification Card, and include the following:
Mail-in applicants may send their applications to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Medical Cannabis
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761-0001
The Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) typically takes up to thirty days from the initial receipt date to review complete applications. If the Department approves an MMIC, it must issue it within fifteen days after approval. If the Department rejects an application, it must let the applicant know why within the same time frame. The Department will immediately reject any incomplete applications.
Beginning 12/01/2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health stopped receiving paper applications for medical marijuana cards and transitioned to a completely online system. Eligible individuals can get Illinois medical marijuana cards online through the state's Medical Cannabis Patients Registry Program. If you wish to apply for your medical marijuana card online, you must create a new account with the following information:
If you are eligible and submit your online application before 6:00 p.m. CST, you will receive a printable provisional (temporary) registration card the following day, after 8:30 p.m.
The Illinois Department of Health issues one-, two-, or three-year registry identification cards for eligible patients and caregivers. The Department also discounts the application fee for veterans or individuals receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The application fees for regular patient applications are listed below:
| Application Fee | Discounted Application Fee |
| $50 - One-Year Registry Card | $25 - One-Year Registry Card |
| $100 - Two-Year Registry Card | $50 - Two-Year Registry Card |
| $125 - Three-Year Registry Card | $75 - Three-Year Registry Card |
Primary caregivers must also have medical marijuana cards to buy medical cannabis or help eligible patients use it. The fee schedule for caregivers' MMIC is below:
Patients listing caregivers in their applications have a different fee schedule:
| Application Type (Reduced Fee) | 1-Yr | 2-Yr | 3- Yr |
| Patient Application with One Caregiver | $75 ($50) | $150 ($100) | $200 ($150) |
| Patient Application with Two Caregivers | $100 ($75) | $200 ($150) | $275 ($225) |
| Patient Application with Three Caregivers | $125 ($100) | $250 ($200) | $350 ($300) |
Currently, there are two types of renewals for medical marijuana cards:
If you have a medical marijuana card, the IDPH will send you a courtesy letter regarding your extension renewal about 45 days before it expires. If your card requires complete renewal, you will get a courtesy letter five months before it expires and a Physician Written Certification.
If your Illinois MMIC is up for extension or renewal soon, you must wait to receive the IDPH's letter before attempting to renew. Once you receive the letter, go to the Medical Cannabis Patients page to continue your card.
As every medical marijuana card is valid for up to three years, cardholders may extend their cards with additional one-year cards. However, anyone who wishes to renew their Illinois MMJ card must submit a new application with a physician certification, an updated photo, and other documentation.
| Extension Fee | Discounted Extension Fee |
| $100 - One-Year Registry Card | $50 - One-Year Registry Card |
Renewal fees are the same as initial application fees:
| Renewal Fees | Discounted Fee Applications(For Veterans or persons with DD214 or SSI Letters) |
| $100 - One-Year Registry Card | $50 - One-Year Registry Card |
| $200 - Two-Year Registry Card | $100 - Two-Year Registry Card |
| $250 - Three-Year Registry Card | $125 - Three-Year Registry Card |
The Illinois Department of Health requires eligible applicants to provide the following documents when applying for medical cannabis cards:
The Department accepts the following items as proof of residency:
Yes, according to Illinois' medical records law, medical records are confidential documents. Therefore, only you and your nurses, doctors, or other health care administrators can access any details you give when you apply for a medical marijuana card. Further, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandates health companies and workers to keep patients' information private, making it illegal for anyone to share their confidential details.
Every Illinois Medical Marijuana card contains the following information: