Illinois dispensary owners might have access to a larger patient base down the road.
The state’s health department is now soliciting suggestions on medical conditions that could be added to the qualifying conditions list for its medical marijuana program.
A wide array of afflictions such as cancer, glaucoma and HIV are already covered under the state’s MMJ law. But patients hope other aliments – including post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines and Alzheimer’s – could be added to the list, which would expand the market significantly.
Eleven states already including PTSD in the list of conditions that qualify for medical cannabis cards, according to CBS News.
The department started taking suggestions this week and will accept them through the end of February. A board will review the suggestions and hold public hearings. Recommendations will be taken twice a year, with the second round starting in July, CBS reported.
Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn will need to make recommendations to the board that reviews the suggestions before he leaves office Monday or leave appointments to Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner.
Dispensary owners are still waiting to hear whether they won licenses to operate in the state after the selection process, which was to be complete by the end of 2014, was delayed.
