Judge orders Illinois to add intractable pain as a medical marijuana condition

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.

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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.