Illinois medical marijuana card wait time

Those of you that got the “Printer is Broken” letter (not PA). are you able to switch dispensaries, or do you have to wait for your actual card to do so?
 

Juke52

Well-Known Member
Whatever. Why would sending it in by mail even be an option. I need a screenshot of where it says that online is “obviously” the better option because there are people that have applied online that haven’t gotten their cards neither.
And no one should MIND following the law, but the main problem is, for other patience and myself, is the 3-4 MONTH WAITING. That’s the major problem. Another issue that stings me, is that around the time I was getting ready to apply, they falsely advertise/say that it would be 30-60 to receive the card in the mail.
I understand your frustration, but I have to agree with Myk63 - if you applied without having an understanding the details of doing so first, that's on you.

Don't worry though. One way or the other you're going to get access soon, and all of the frustration will melt away... :)
 

LEEla

Member
About the pre December 1st applications, no. That's the screwing from IDPH being secretive and lying.
Not IDPH employees but regular people telling everyone to not apply by mail any more, yes there are plenty of screen shots for that. Not obviously better until PA rolled out, which nobody knew when it would be or how it would apply, but if you had any hope of getting access faster yes online has been the obviously better option since the law was signed.

Actually many people who have applied online since Dec 1st have got access today while people who applied by mail on that same day are waiting.

You are somewhat correct that they should do away with mail options. Although I can see some people only being able to apply by mail (I don't know, Amish, maybe?).

I totally blame IDPH for their waiting period (and that is what it is). I even blame them for being secretive about how online applications will get provisional access. I really blame them for being secretive and giving a royal screwing to October and November applicants. I even blame them for the arbitrary Dec 1st backdating, the US Constitution says no ex post facto laws, the law was signed 8/28, their rule is the 12/1 date.

All I'm saying is for the people who applied by mail and are looking to blame someone else for that choice, it's been very clear for many months that provisional access was only for online applications. (Although there has been plenty of confusion being spread by IDPH and bloggers about that.)

The people who work for idph isn’t my biggest issue. Duh, i’m not there to actually see how fast they’re working, how many people are working, how many application they actually have, etc. I’m not mad at the employees there most of the time when I have spoken to them over the phone I didn’t connect with someone “rude”.

It’s just the fact that regardless of wheather someone send in their application through mail or online. The waiting period is crazy. And now someone wants to say it’s BEEN like this. That’s even more $&@? up. So please.


Thank you for understanding where i’m Coming from though. Appreciate it.
 
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Myk63

Well-Known Member
Leela, WHO Exactly, are "They"? It has been well known For a year it takes 85 to 105 days.
I've seen people who received cards long ago saying how many days it took them like it has any bearing on the present.


The people who work for idph isn’t my biggest issue. Duh, i’m not there to actually see how fast they’re working, how many people are working, how many application they actually have, etc. I’m not mad at the employees there most of the time when I have spoken to them over the phone I didn’t connect with someone “rude”.

It’s just the fact that regardless of wheather someone send in their application through mail or online. The waiting period is crazy. And now someone wants to say it’s BEEN like this. That’s even more $&@? up. So please.


Thank you for understanding where i’m Coming from though. Appreciate it.
BTDT. I had hopes provisional would happen soon after I applied so I could have it the first infusion after I applied. Then I learned of the Dec 1st rules and had hopes they would get it to me by the next infusion either by provisional working on Dec 1st or by the times they were managing to do in November. Then it was like they stopped approving for weeks. Times went back to 90 days and then over 90 days. There is no compassion in making sick people wait for 90 days when they don't even look at an application for 60 of those days.

I don't know why the workers lie on the phone but I have to blame them for that. I doubt if they're at all responsible for the wait times.
 

mlpntr

Member
Ok I want some clarification on what the provisional access is. Is this only for opioids patients ? Is it for people who’ve applied online ? The medical cannibis patience that applied by mail, or online, do those people have to wait the full 90+ days?
I want to know who is getting access sooner and who has to wait.

I applied by mail, they received my application November 19th.
I applied online 11/5/18 and was approved as of 1/24/19. I did not get provisional but was lucky enough to get my paper card in the mail yesterday. It’s good through the end of February and I should have my picture card before then.
 

mucst1

Member
I took it to another step, after getting no info, I filed a complaint with the main inspector general of Illinois...My complaint was that the IDPH had never told me why the process took over 90 days, why my health records were being sent to the Secretary of State (I have past health issues that could have revoked my lincense because of military injuries occurred during combat) and why I was approved so early in the process and yet to get a card or letter...basically fraud, waste and abuse. I also pointed out the fact that provisional clients get their card immediately and I, along with other clients are being forced to wait is discriminatory...I also plan to to talk to my Illinois Assembly member next week...
 

Spellchek

Active Member
I took it to another step, after getting no info, I filed a complaint with the main inspector general of Illinois...My complaint was that the IDPH had never told me why the process took over 90 days, why my health records were being sent to the Secretary of State (I have past health issues that could have revoked my lincense because of military injuries occurred during combat) and why I was approved so early in the process and yet to get a card or letter...basically fraud, waste and abuse. I also pointed out the fact that provisional clients get their card immediately and I, along with other clients are being forced to wait is discriminatory...I also plan to to talk to my Illinois Assembly member next week...
Your information was sent to the Secretary of State because the law requires cards to only be issued to Illinois residents. The SoS is the office that confirms your address information to ensure you meet this statutory requirement. This is stated in IDPH materials.

As for your discrimination claim, what protected class are you a member of, and how did IDPH discriminate against your class?
 

mucst1

Member
What protected class am I? I’m a 100% disable combat veteran which is a protected class! All my medical records are verifiable, without having a doctor sign off, especially when it says my disability rating is 100%. Especially with regards to the issue of medical cannabis, unlike sicknesses that some might have, brain damage caused by traumatic brain injury never goes away and there are no current cures...So yeah I’m a little distraught for the wait time, especially when my card was approved in November...I’m not bashing other patients, I just want to know why the long wait time, especially since it’s pushing a quarter of a year...
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
Your information was sent to the Secretary of State because the law requires cards to only be issued to Illinois residents. The SoS is the office that confirms your address information to ensure you meet this statutory requirement. This is stated in IDPH materials.
Actually it's sent to the SoS so they can add your card to your driving record so the police can see who has a card without having to actually see someone do something that makes them need to know they have a card.
Do they do that for benzodiazapine prescriptions? Opioid prescriptions? Alcohol sales? There is some discrimination there and it opens sick people who use mmj up to abuse from random bad cops who are against mmj.
Anyone can check a vast majority of people's addresses free on the internet, but small businesses who sell ecigs have to buy 3rd party services to do it so even that can't be that expensive.
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
Actually it's sent to the SoS so they can add your card to your driving record so the police can see who has a card without having to actually see someone do something that makes them need to know they have a card.
Do they do that for benzodiazapine prescriptions? Opioid prescriptions? Alcohol sales? There is some discrimination there and it opens sick people who use mmj up to abuse from random bad cops who are against mmj.
Anyone can check a vast majority of people's addresses free on the internet, but small businesses who sell ecigs have to buy 3rd party services to do it so even that can't be that expensive.
Oh yes, and for those who apply online, their charge card is linked to their address. So that covers everyone but those who get a disposable chargecard.
 
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Juke52

Well-Known Member
I applied online 11/5/18 and was approved as of 1/24/19. I did not get provisional but was lucky enough to get my paper card in the mail yesterday.

You did get provisional. What you describe - that's provisional. Provisional access means getting access before you get your card in hand, while waiting for your card.
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
You did get provisional. What you describe - that's provisional. Provisional access means getting access before you get your card in hand, while waiting for your card.
A November application would be the letter that the printers are down. Provisional is only going back to December 1st applicants.
 

Spellchek

Active Member
Actually it's sent to the SoS so they can add your card to your driving record
That happens after IDPH approval, and therefore isn't what I was referring to in my earlier post. ("Upon the approval of the registration and issuance of a registry card under this Section, the Department of Public Health shall forward the designated caregiver or registered qualified patient's driver's registration number to the Secretary of State and certify that the individual is permitted to engage in the medical use of cannabis." 410 ILCS 130/60(d).) The address verification, not the driving record notation, causes delay for some applicants.

It's great that you're concerned about your rights. Feel free to spend some timing reading 410 ILCS 130/25(k)(1) ("Mere possession of, or application for, a registry identification card or registration certificate does not constitute probable cause or reasonable suspicion, nor shall it be used as the sole basis to support the search of the person, property, or home of the person possessing or applying for the registry identification card."). Lots of other strong legal protections in the statute too -- best laws in the country, according to independent reviewers. So maybe stop throwing around charged words like "discrimination" when they clearly don't apply ... just my $0.02.
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
It's great that you're concerned about your rights. Feel free to spend some timing reading 410 ILCS 130/25(k)(1) ("Mere possession of, or application for, a registry identification card or registration certificate does not constitute probable cause or reasonable suspicion, nor shall it be used as the sole basis to support the search of the person, property, or home of the person possessing or applying for the registry identification card."). Lots of other strong legal protections in the statute too -- best laws in the country, according to independent reviewers. So maybe stop throwing around charged words like "discrimination" when they clearly don't apply ... just my $0.02.
I'm a firm believer in the sarcasm that prisons are full of innocent people so I'm extremely skeptical when I hear stories of people who claim they were pulled over just because they have a card. I've also known enough cops that I know what all that says is don't admit you're pulling someone over just because they have a card.
And searching has nothing to do with it. See mmj card status, say they swerved, have sick person do a field sobriety test that they can't refuse, claim they failed. If they can afford to fight it they have less money to spend on mmj. If they can't they have no more mmj.

As long as prescriptions don't show up on driver's license records having mmj show up is discrimination. Above you asked what protected class, it's called Americans with Disabilities Act.

Since you have to carry the card with you to possess there is no reason to have it show up when they run plates.
 
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