Illinois To Consider Covering More Diseases Under Medical Marijuana Program
By Jim Bochnowski in News on Jun 30, 2015 6:45PM
The Illinois Department of Health will accept petitions through the month of July for additional diseases to be added to the list of covered conditions under the state's medical marijuana pilot program.
Back in May, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 11 additional medical conditions that could be covered under the state's medical marijuana program, ranging from anorexia nervosa to PTSD. But recognizing the state hasn't covered every single condition that could be treated by medical marijuana, Illinois' Medical Cannabis Advisory Board is accepting petitions during the month of July to consider additional diseases for medical marijuana treatments, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The state's medical marijuana website will have detailed instructions on the official documentation to submit such a petition to the state. After all petitions are submitted, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will begin considering all proposals beginning in August, although the actual rule-making process could take months.
Looking at this list of states and what conditions they cover under medical marijuana laws, there's plenty more Illinois could approve to make the state a frontrunner in the legalization of medical marijuana.
There's only so much that the state board can do, however. And until Gov. Bruce Rauner decides to sign a bill decriminalizing marijuana in Illinois, the drug will remain illegal for the average citizen who just likes to smoke from time to time.
While the medical marijuana program is not meant for the casual user, we can easily imagine some other "conditions" that Chicagoans might want to treat with weed:
- Finding yourself in Wrigleyville after a Cubs game or after the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.
- Navigating the mess of strollers and dogs on leashes at outdoor events in the summer.
- Dealing with the permanent darkness and snow of Chicago winters.
- Coping with another year of Jay Cutler as the Chicago Bears quarterback.
- Decompressing after another commute through Chicago traffic or an endless CTA delay.
- Surviving another summer tourist season in the Loop.
- Powering through the residual sadness of Hot Doug's closing.
- Or having to sit through another debate over the term "Chiraq."
Of course, we doubt the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will approve the use of THC for any of these "conditions" any time soon.