The benefits of being a medical marijuana patient in Illinois are numerous — and some residents may not even realize just how much time and money you can save. The Illinois medical cannabis program offers significant benefits, including caregiver support and streamlined card renewal processes.
Thankfully, learning how to get a medical marijuana card in IL is as easy as 1, 2, 3. (When you book with Elevate Holistics, that is.)
Here are the three steps to follow to get approved for MMJ online in minutes.
What Does Marijuana Look Like in Illinois?
Medical cannabis has been legal in Illinois since 2013. Since then, the state has seen hundreds of thousands of patients. And understandably so.
This legalization allowed residents with qualifying medical conditions to get their cards and purchase from licensed dispensaries. At the time, and for six years, they were the only Illinois residents allowed to consume marijuana legally.
Then, in 2019, the state voted to legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. This expanded cannabis accessibility exponentially, and more people than ever were able to enjoy plant-based medicine in the Prairie State.
Today, medical marijuana patients still experience significant benefits of having a patient card, even with recreational legalization. But, don’t worry, we’ll talk about those benefits later.
Now, let’s talk about how to get a medical marijuana card in IL online with Elevate Holistics. This way, you know just how straightforward — and affordable — our process can be.
Eligibility and Qualifying Conditions
To be eligible for a medical marijuana card in Illinois, medical patients must meet certain qualifying conditions.
These conditions include:
Autism
Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease
HIV/AIDS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Chronic Pain
Cancer
Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome
Crohn’s Disease
Chronic Migraines
Endometriosis
Glaucoma
Multiple Sclerosis
Ovarian Cysts
Severe Fibromyalgia
Parkinson’s Disease
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Seizures, including Epilepsy
Patients must also be at least 18 years old and be an Illinois resident with proof of residency. A licensed Illinois physician must diagnose the qualifying medical condition.
For minors, a parent or guardian must consent to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Illinois.
Illinois Residency and Identity Requirements
To apply for a medical marijuana card in Illinois, you must provide proof of Illinois residency and identity.
Acceptable forms of proof of residency include:
Utility bills
Bank statements
Current property tax statements
Voter registration cards
Health insurance documents
For identity verification, you can use:
Illinois Driver’s License
IL State ID
Passport
Out-of-State ID with proof of residence
Additionally, you must provide a photocopy of your government-issued identification. Ensuring you have these documents ready will streamline your application process for a medical marijuana card in Illinois.
How to Get an Illinois Medical Marijuana Card
Whether you’ve had a medical card before or this is your first time registering as a patient, Elevate Holistics makes getting approved for MMJ in IL simpler than ever.
Here are the three steps you’ll have to follow to get your Illinois medical marijuana card.
And, of course, if you have any questions along the way, our team will happily help you out.
Step 1: Book with Elevate Holistics online
You’ll begin the process by booking a telehealth appointment with one of Elevate Holistics’ MMJ doctors in Illinois.
Simply choose a time and date that works best for your schedule. (And don’t worry: our appointments only take about 15 minutes.)
After booking, keep an eye out for a confirmation email. This will detail your next steps, as well as provide the booking link you need to follow during your appointment time.
You can book your appointment using the button at the bottom of this blog, or the Book Now button in the top right corner of your screen!
Step 2: Meet with our expert MMJ doctors
Once your appointment time comes, you will meet with our MMJ doctor over the phone or computer — whatever is most comfortable for you!
As we mentioned, your appointment will only take a few minutes. During this time, our physician will discuss your medical records and evaluate whether or not you qualify for medical cannabis.
If you do qualify, Elevate Holistics will upload a copy of your physician’s recommendation to your Elevate profile. You’ll use this in the next step!
If you don’t happen to qualify (which is rare), we will refund your appointment entirely.
Step 3: Register with the state (Or let us do it for you!)
After we’ve approved you for medical cannabis and you get your online recommendation, it’s time to apply to Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program.
Here, you will upload your certification, proof of residency, and pay the state registration fee. The fee for your card will depend on how long you’d like it to be valid.
If this sounds like too much work, we get it. That’s why Elevate Holistics offers our exclusive Full-Service add-on at checkout.
With our full-service program, our expert team will register you with the state so you don’t have to. All you’ll need to do is make your profile, and we’ll take care of the rest from there.
Then, as soon as the state approves your application, you’ll be ready to purchase medical marijuana at your new favorite medical dispensary.
Application Fees and Payment
The application fee for a medical marijuana card in Illinois varies depending on the term length and the number of registered caregivers.
Here’s what the fees look like:
$50 for a one-year registration
$100 for a two-year registration
$125 for a three-year registration
You can pay the application fee by credit or debit card when completing the Illinois medical marijuana card online application.
Veterans and recipients of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may qualify for a 50% reduction on the application fee, making it more affordable for those who need it most.
Weed’s Legal: Why Get a Medical Marijuana Card in IL?
As we mentioned, both medical cannabis and recreational marijuana are legal in Illinois — so why take the time to get your medical card?
Medical patients within Illinois’ medical marijuana program benefit from access to higher-potency cannabis products, legal protections, and specific regulations regarding possession limits and cultivation rights that differ from recreational users.
Save Money on Taxes
While there are a lot of reasons, here’s the biggest: to save money.
Illinois recreational cannabis has some of the highest tax rates in the country. Recreational cannabis products not only have multiple taxes, but these tax rates are hefty. Here’s a quick rundown of what that looks like:
State Excise Tax (based on THC content and product type):
10% tax on cannabis flower or products with 35% THC or less.
20% tax on cannabis-infused products (e.g., edibles).
25% tax on products with more than 35% THC (e.g., concentrates).
State Sales Tax:
A 6.25% general sales tax applies to all recreational cannabis purchases.
Local Taxes:
Depending on location, municipalities and counties can impose additional sales taxes, typically ranging from 3% to 3.75%.
Remember, those rates are for recreational cannabis only.
Medical marijuana patients, on the other hand, only pay the standard 1% sales tax on their products.
This means that if you buy an eighth that has over 35% THC, you’re going to pay more than 30% less than a recreational consumer. This will make your purchases more affordable than ever.
Grow Weed at Home
Not only will you save a ton of money on your cannabis products with a medical card, but registered medical marijuana patients will also gain access to exclusive perks like cultivating marijuana plants at home.
Registered patients can grow up to five plants in the safety of your home. However, plants must be grown in an enclosed, locked space that is not visible to the public.
Recreational consumers, on the other hand, cannot grow any plants. This is against the law and will land you with some hefty fines. You must have a medical marijuana license to grow.
Legal Limitations for Illinois Medical Marijuana Card Holders
Of course, Illinois medical marijuana card holders are subject to certain legal limitations.
These include:
Possession limits: 2.5 ounces per 14-day period
Possession limits for non-residents: 15 grams of cannabis flower, 2.5 grams of cannabis concentrate, and no more than 250 milligrams of THC content in infused cannabis products
While recreational use of cannabis is legal in Illinois, medical cannabis card holders are afforded some employee protection
Medical cannabis card holders are not allowed to use cannabis in public places or while operating a vehicle
Patients must also adhere to the rules and regulations set by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Medical Cannabis Patient Program.
Understanding these limitations will help you stay compliant and make the most of your medical marijuana card in Illinois.
Save Money, Smoke Better Weed With Elevate Holistics
At the end of the day, not only is it easy to get a medical marijuana card in IL, but it’s oh-so-beneficial.
With Elevate Holistics, we can get you approved for IL MMJ in minutes, and even help you register with the state.
This way, all you have to do is be patient and wait for the program’s approval. It really is that easy. Please note that individuals holding a commercial driver’s license are ineligible to receive a medical marijuana card in Illinois.
As a blog reader, we’re offering you an exclusive discount on your appointment, too! Simply enter the code BLOG5 at checkout for extra money off your appointment.
Click the button below to get started!
