FlYingIllini
Member
This excites a 9/19 applicant right here!
Illinois medical marijuana card wait time
- Thread starter Znewberry
- Start date
I really was told “received mid-Sept” and didnt want to press the issue or waste anymore time. I put my date at 9/17 so I have to be close. It was easy to mind set the 90 day thing in the beginning. But seeing the light sux. I dose for pain and insomnia, but I feel for you all that dose for any anxiety disorders. I can’t imagine feeling like this all the time. Will I get any type of approval confirmation if I applied by mail.
I was curious about what if anything changes tomorrow, 12/1, the date given for Illinois to "adopt" - not just announce, but "adopt" - the regulations signed into law on 8/28 as part of the Opioid Alternative Program. I'm not a lawyer, but I know how to read 
, so I dug into the specifics posted on the IDPH website. Here's what the law says happens on 12/1, tomorrow:
"Public Act 100-1114
SB0336 Enrolled LRB100 05118 RJF 15128 b
……
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a
person provided a written certification for a debilitating
medical condition who has submitted a completed online
application to the Department of Public Health shall receive a
provisional registration and be entitled to purchase medical
cannabis from a specified licensed dispensing organization for
a period of 90 days or until his or her application has been
denied or he or she receives a registry identification card,
whichever is earlier.
……. "
This is very specific, and very interesting. One, it ONLY refers to online applicants, so if you mailed yours in, this does not apply to you. Two, it allows you 90 days access, even if your application is ultimately denied.
My gut tells me the state will not follow their own law.
Any lawyers on this forum who want to take on a pro bono class action suit?
, so I dug into the specifics posted on the IDPH website. Here's what the law says happens on 12/1, tomorrow:"Public Act 100-1114
SB0336 Enrolled LRB100 05118 RJF 15128 b
……
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a
person provided a written certification for a debilitating
medical condition who has submitted a completed online
application to the Department of Public Health shall receive a
provisional registration and be entitled to purchase medical
cannabis from a specified licensed dispensing organization for
a period of 90 days or until his or her application has been
denied or he or she receives a registry identification card,
whichever is earlier.
……. "
This is very specific, and very interesting. One, it ONLY refers to online applicants, so if you mailed yours in, this does not apply to you. Two, it allows you 90 days access, even if your application is ultimately denied.
My gut tells me the state will not follow their own law.
Any lawyers on this forum who want to take on a pro bono class action suit?
I don't believe anyone has ever gotten a true "approval confirmation" from IDPH. Some people who have made inquiries (telephone/email) have learned of their approval in advance of getting their card, but that's simply because they happened to have contacted IDPH sometime after their approval but before card arrival.
But, no, the IDPH doesn't send out anything unsolicited to update you on status. Those of us patiently waiting it out without contacting IDPH don't find out anything until we either get (a) the card, or (b) a notice from IDPH of an application deficiency.
natureboy!
Well-Known Member
The Law is Clear . will be anxious to find out how they dodge thatI was curious about what if anything changes tomorrow, 12/1, the date given for Illinois to "adopt" - not just announce, but "adopt" - the regulations signed into law on 8/28 as part of the Opioid Alternative Program. I'm not a lawyer, but I know how to read
"Public Act 100-1114
SB0336 Enrolled LRB100 05118 RJF 15128 b
……
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a
person provided a written certification for a debilitating
medical condition who has submitted a completed online
application to the Department of Public Health shall receive a
provisional registration and be entitled to purchase medical
cannabis from a specified licensed dispensing organization for
a period of 90 days or until his or her application has been
denied or he or she receives a registry identification card,
whichever is earlier.
……. "
This is very specific, and very interesting. One, it ONLY refers to online applicants, so if you mailed yours in, this does not apply to you. Two, it allows you 90 days access, even if your application is ultimately denied.
My gut tells me the state will not follow their own law.
Any lawyers on this forum who want to take on a pro bono class action suit?
I'm not sure why you think the state will balk at giving provisional access even to applicants that may be ultimately denied. It simply reflects a progressive and very welcome shift in policy: to get medicine in the hands of those who want it as soon as possible, even if some non-qualified people slip through for a short time.
It also de-emphasizes the role of the IDPH as the "cannabis gatekeeper" of Illinois, which is pretty much the role they currently serve. With the new regulations, we're (thankfully) about to move into a time where IDPH is more of a record-keeper than a judge/jury. Remember that the incoming opioid program makes no allowance for IDPH to approve or reject opioid applicants -- if you meet the conditions of the program, you get access to the dispensary. Thus I'm very hopeful that IDPH's reduced role as weed gatekeeper will lead them to implement a pro-patient provisional access system.
Lastly, the "risk" of a few patients getting provisional access and later having their applications denied seems small. Might some people without qualifying conditions use this "loophole" to get temporary access to weed? Maybe, but its a pretty stupid option. Someone submitting a "fake" application would still have to pay the very real IDPH application fee, and even if they do get provisional access, they get the privilege of buying cannabis at very expensive dispensary prices (including the state's excise tax). Not exactly the most economical or practical way to score weed, and given the IL quantity limitations (2.5 oz.s/2 weeks) hardly a viable backdoor for someone to really abuse the system.
Can I wait until after I get my card to decide?Any lawyers on this forum who want to take on a pro bono class action suit?
HatetheState
Member
After reading the new law, I am sorry that I did not apply online and chose to mail in my application. If provisional access does happen after tomorrow, I don’t see why we couldn’t resubmit our apps online and pay with credit cards to get provisional access. I’m sure everyone kept copies of all their documents. Just a thought.
Another $100 when the first application's fees are non-refundable would be reason enough for me.
The reason(s) I think the state will balk: every single thing they've done regarding MMJ until now.
But FWIW, I wasn't specifically referring to patients who will ultimately be denied - I was referring to everyone who as applied. Every step of the way they've stumbled and delayed this process, and I'd bet money they'll stumble and delay all aspects of provisional access beyond tomorrow as well. I hope I'm wrong.
BTW, I just saw a note posted in another forum with the timeline for the application process from 2016, who received their card within 30 days after applying. So at one point the state was moving things along, now not so much.
Hybridstoner
Member
Tempted to call off work Monday hoping my card would be in the mail. Card charged 09/12, anyone think it'll be in my.mailbox Monday? Lol
Thank you. I thought I’ve read people have gotten emails of their approval and to expect card in 10-14 days. I really can’t wait because this will ultimately be something that this guy has advocated for, believed in, and yes waited, for far longer than 90 days. As I’m sure is the case for most of us. So I will wait with those brothers and sisters. But it ain’t gonna be patiently.
Is your dispensary open on Monday?
About 40 years ago my mother gave me permission to get high if it was legal.
I quit about 20 years ago but was still for legalization. (And oddly lost all my stoner friends even though I had no problem with them, I'd even load hitters for them.)
When you get your card I see some reunions in your future. Make them load your hitters. Lol.
I
I was told the same about the sec of state I called on Tuesday of this week. I spoke with someone today and he said I was approved and my card was sent to print, allow 14days.
Hybridstoner
Member
Yes I signed up for compassionate Care in Naperville, they are open everyday. They are by my work but I live an hour away and my shift ends at 5 Monday so I wouldn't be able to get any if I do get it Monday unless I were to call off.
Just wanted to make sure. Mine is closed Mondays. Taking the day off, getting the card and then finding out it's closed would suck.
Hybridstoner
Member
Definitely, it would also suck to not take off and get the card but I could always call off the following day lol
Sounds great to me, I think I'll give them another call next week and hopefully get the same answer. Primary progressive ms can get pretty rough most days so hoping that the tiny spot at the end of the tunnel starts getting bigger and bigger each day until that card shows up.
I'm not going to go out of my way to defend the IDPH, but I do think the level of criticism they receive in this thread is overstated. And I'm not talking about the 90-day approval time, which I've previously posted that I think is ridiculous. But other than that -- even under a cannabis-hostile prior governor -- the department seems to handle the program relatively efficiently. Case in point: you don't hear about people getting denied very often. Say what you will about the IDPH, at least they are giving people access to the medicine they want (albeit too slowly).
I get that people have legitimate issues with the Illinois program, and its far from perfect. But a little perspective is needed. Yes, Illinois is years behind California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington, etc. But we're years ahead of our Midwestern brethren: Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota (really, only Michigan is ahead of us right now). Hell, Indiana just legalized (non-intoxicating) CBD this year, when we in Illinois have been able to buy CBD for years on the shelves at Whole Foods and GNC. We're probably going to be the 2nd legal state in the Midwest, and, in theory, we could still beat Michigan to recreational retail since they won't roll that out until 2020. All things considered, I think Illinois deserves a passing grade on cannabis politics....
To be fair, the bill requires the IDPH to "implement" rules for the new law by December 1, but doesn't explicitly say that provision access itself must start by that date. Indeed, before provisional access can start, the dispensaries need to be trained how to use the IDPH website/database to identify valid provisional access patients. I don't think it's realistic to think that provisional access will be live until 1/1 at the earliest, but I'd love to be proven wrong.
Hybridstoner
Member
Sounds like you do your research. Im not sure if you would add this as a credible issue but if idph just gave everyone provisional access I don't think the dispensaries would meet the demand of cannabis. Everyone gets a card but no bud because grow ops at the moment aren't producing full capacity due to the limited amount of patients. What do you think?