A new Illinois law has legalized medical marijuana, but until regulations are final, patients still can’t use cannabis without risking arrest.
Under the proposal, patients would pay $150 a year to apply for a medical marijuana photo ID card. They also would pay for their own fingerprinting for a background check. Some disabled patients could pay a lower fee of $75 a year.
Medical marijuana supporters are reacting.
Chris Lindsey of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington says the $150 annual fee for patients is burdensome. He says states like Michigan charge less and generate big surpluses.
But he applauds Illinois for proposing an advisory board to review petitions for adding medical conditions to the list approved for marijuana.
Jim Champion is an Illinois veteran with multiple sclerosis. He says he’s concerned that patients and caregivers can’t get medical marijuana cards if they have firearm owners ID cards because of state and federal laws.