Medical Cannabis Expansions Introduced to Illinois House

A bill to make Illinois’ medical cannabis program permanent and expand the state’s qualifying condition list has been introduced in the House, according to a WIFR report.

The measure would add autism, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, osteoarthritis, anorexia, Ehlers-Danlos, or elastic skin, Syndrome, Neuro-Behcet’s Autoimmune Disease, neuropathy, and polycystic kidney disease to the program’s conditions list.

Additionally, the law would allow patients under the age of 18 to have an additional caregiver – from two to three – and allow military veterans enrolled in the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program to participate in the medical cannabis program, which under the current law sunsets on July 1, 2021. Last year, the state approved what the sponsor called “an exit ramp for opioid use” allowing individuals suffering from opioid addition to access the medical cannabis program.

Notably, during his inaugural address in January Democratic Gov. J.B Pritzker promised to legalize cannabis throughout the state during his tenure. A month earlier, Pritzker said he wanted the state’s industry to roll out before neighboring Michigan, which legalized cannabis via a voter referendum last year.

The bi-partisan medical cannabis reform measure counts several high-ranking Republicans among its sponsors, including Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Conference Chair Tim Butler, and Assistant Minority Leader Norine Hammond. It’s currently in the Rules Committee.