An Illinois judge has ruled the state must add intractable pain to the list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions, a move that could greatly expand sales at the program’s 53 dispensaries.
The state health department initially rejected intractable pain as a condition, but Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell ordered the department to include it, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The health department is expected to appeal the judge’s order, which would put the change on hold.
- Intractable pain, often referred to as chronic pain, has dramatically increased dispensary sales in states that have added it.
- More than 29,900 Illinois patients had signed up for MMJ cards as of Dec. 31, 2017.
- Total retail sales for Illinois dispensaries in 2017 were over $86 million.
