Illinois medical marijuana card wait time

Spellchek

Active Member
I'll be amazed if November's application numbers don't drop with the promise of legalization.
You may be right, but surely most people know that even if J.B. moves as fast as possible, Illinois won't have retail recreational until 2020 at the earliest. If you have a current need/want for cannabis, deferring the medical card route would mean you're in for a really long wait.
 

Jukk

Member
For those who have not recieved their card yet, have you heard about when you were approved? I haven’t been able to get through to talk to anyone today or yesterday.
Unfortunately, calling them is the only sure way to know that you've been approved (that I know of) until you get your card in the mail.
I contacted them by phone on two separate occasions to check my status. Each time I just called at random times throughout the day. The first time getting through was after 3pm the other just before noon.

When you call, there are two different greetings.
1. You will hear a recording stating their operating hours and you won't get through to anyone.
2. The greeting will say something about heavy call volume and to stay on the line.

With greeting number 2, the longest I waited was about 8 minutes before someone answered.
 

alChicago

Member
You may be right, but surely most people know that even if J.B. moves as fast as possible, Illinois won't have retail recreational until 2020 at the earliest. If you have a current need/want for cannabis, deferring the medical card route would mean you're in for a really long wait.
Sooner the better and I would think 2021 at the earliest. JB isn’t the only person that has to approve some it will have to go through the state legislature and then the time to create to rules and implement. Hopefully when it does happen those of us with, or waiting, for our medical cards will get some sort of tax break or discount.
 

alChicago

Member
I feel like the medical cannibis department should have been hired more employees to check applications. Especially since the number of applications keeps growing. It’s not fair that people have to wait a long time. :cry:
Not just making people wait. The state is broke. Cash our checks and get the taxes for what we buy
 

Spellchek

Active Member
it will have to go through the state legislature
Madigan is on board with J.B.'s legalization pledge. Obviously, Madigan isn't the entire state legislature ... but his support can't be understated in terms of both ability to push approval and ability to push it promptly.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/mike-madigan-illinois-democrats-marijuana-cannabis-legislation-heather-steans-kelly-cassidy-bruce-rauner-jb-pritzker/

But you're right that it's a bit naive to ever imagine the "best case" time frames when it comes to legalization. Too much money at stake; too many people clamoring for a piece of the pie.
 

LEEla

Member
I have been lurking here for a while. This is the best place on the internet to find information about Illinois medical cannabis. I am a disabled vet and I was hoping the wait wouldn't be like this. I have a broken back and used to use pain meds, but I quit hoping this would help. I never imagined the wait.

Application submitted online 12/2
Oh my god, I feel so bad. It truly does suck. I was first told the wait was 30-60 days. Now all of a sudden it’s like 90+ days. What kind of bull crap is that ?
 

LEEla

Member
I was telling some people that even though Jb has stated in his campange that he believes it’s time for illinois to legalize cannabis. I believe it still would be like over a year before it’s actually implemented because he has to (correct me if i’m wrong) go through other individuals there to. Make them become on board.

And a couple other things have to happen too.

So yea I agree that 2020 at the earliest is when I see recreational cannabis in illinois, but I don’t really think any earlier than that.

I never knew that Michigan was legalizing cannabis, but they’ve had to have already been discussing and putting the time and paper work into it.
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
Madigan is on board with J.B.'s legalization pledge. Obviously, Madigan isn't the entire state legislature ... but his support can't be understated in terms of both ability to push approval and ability to push it promptly.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/mike-madigan-illinois-democrats-marijuana-cannabis-legislation-heather-steans-kelly-cassidy-bruce-rauner-jb-pritzker/

But you're right that it's a bit naive to ever imagine the "best case" time frames when it comes to legalization. Too much money at stake; too many people clamoring for a piece of the pie.
Democrats also have a veto proof majority now so unless there are a lot of anti-cannabis Democrats it should be easy. It's just a matter of making sure the payola goes to the right friends.


I was telling some people that even though Jb has stated in his campange that he believes it’s time for illinois to legalize cannabis. I believe it still would be like over a year before it’s actually implemented because he has to (correct me if i’m wrong) go through other individuals there to. Make them become on board.

And a couple other things have to happen too.

So yea I agree that 2020 at the earliest is when I see recreational cannabis in illinois, but I don’t really think any earlier than that.

I never knew that Michigan was legalizing cannabis, but they’ve had to have already been discussing and putting the time and paper work into it.
It should take a year. I've heard one of the elected suggesting slightly less. But this isn't uncharted territory, Colorado is a good place to look for strong commercial medical program and getting a pretty good commercial legalization program going.
 

TrailblazerTony

Well-Known Member
Oh my god, I feel so bad. It truly does suck. I was first told the wait was 30-60 days. Now all of a sudden it’s like 90+ days. What kind of bull crap is that ?

That is USDA Prime Illinois Bull Poop, anyone who is telling people 30 to 60 days should be Locked Up.
 

TrailblazerTony

Well-Known Member
Hello all! To those of us who are still waiting I just received word from the wellness doctor I went through to get my certification stated provisional cards will be emailed after 1/31. I really hope that’s the case!

I wish I knew more, but all I know is I am attending a Meeting on Feb.12th at My Disp. where they plan to explain the Whole new Alternative to Opioid bill , which gives more people the opportunity to treat pain with cannabis instead of prescription opioids. Dr. will discuss how medical cannabis works to relieve pain and how we can assist patients to reduce or eliminate their use of opioids. We will also address how and when the new law will be implemented. If you or someone you know is being prescribed opioids, this is a presentation you won’t want to miss.
 
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TrailblazerTony

Well-Known Member
Democrats also have a veto proof majority now so unless there are a lot of anti-cannabis Democrats it should be easy. It's just a matter of making sure the payola goes to the right friends.




It should take a year. I've heard one of the elected suggesting slightly less. But this isn't uncharted territory, Colorado is a good place to look for strong commercial medical program and getting a pretty good commercial legalization program going.

JB is a Billionaire. Watch how fast People "Get on Board", amazing how everyone wants to be Friends with The Man with Money. Trust me, They will get on Board Fast, or they will be Unemployed. So right about The Payola, you Must have lived in Illinois a Long Time!
 

Myk63

Well-Known Member
JB is a Billionaire. Watch how fast People "Get on Board", amazing how everyone wants to be Friends with The Man with Money. Trust me, They will get on Board Fast, or they will be Unemployed. So right about The Payola, you Must have lived in Illinois a Long Time!
Pretty much all government, all parties. It's nothing new and shown in old classic movies like "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" 1939 and "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" 1988 (but about late 1940's).
The only reason the world is going towards legalization now is because someone figured out they could make money and they had enough money on hand to buy politicians.
 
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