House Bill 1

(Lang, D-Chicago; Haine, D-Alton) creates a four-year pilot program that would make Illinois the 19th state (along with the District of Columbia) to allow sick or dying people to use small amounts of medical cannabis. It would require a doctor to certify that the patient suffers from a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or hepatitis C and that this limited use would ease that suffering. House Bill 1 does the following: (1) A physician may submit a written certification only for a patient with whom the physician has an ongoing relationship and is receiving treatment for the underlying condition from the certifying physician. (2) The Department of Agriculture would regulate the 22 cultivation centers (one in each State Police District; DPR would oversee the 60 nonprofit dispensaries; and DPH would regulate eligible patients. (3) Dispensaries may not sell more than 2.5 ounces of cannabis for a 14-day period to qualified patients. A patient may not grow his or her own medical cannabis. (4) After receiving a written certification from the patient’s regular physician, the Department would issue an identification card to the patient and, if one is appointed, the patient’s primary caregiver. (5) The physician’s written certification must state that the patient is likely to receive a therapeutic or palliative benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat or alleviate the patient’s debilitating medical condition or its symptoms. The condition must be listed in House Bill 1 to be eligible. Unlike other states, generalized pain is not a qualifying condition under House Bill 1. House Bill 1 is on third reading in the Senate after passing the House.