Robert Celt
New Member
Mention "medical marijuana" and most of us conjure up all sorts of images.
Those include a questionable location, marijuana dispensers that resemble candy jars and a pair of Cheech and Chong look-alikes manning the cash register.
However, the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program is much different than that. HCI Alternatives is set to open a cannabis dispensary in Springfield in January. That dispensary is expected to serve the Decatur area, at least until other planned dispensaries open in surrounding communities.
The distance to a dispensary may be the least of the hassles for those who seek relief from cannabis.
First, the relief will not come cheaply. It's expected that typical prices for the drug will be in the range of $350 to $475 an ounce and insurance most likely won't cover the cost. The cost is high because the Illinois pilot program is scheduled to end in 2018. Owners want to recoup their investment as quickly as possible and the price would go down dramatically if the pilot program is extended or made permanent.
Getting to the point of purchasing the cannabis won't be easy. Most patients will need a referral form from their doctor and a patient-completed form that requires a photo, proof of residency, age and identity, fingerprints and a $100 application fee. Approval by the state could take several weeks, longer if a patient messes up the required paperwork.
Once approved, a patient then must designate a dispensary that they will visit. At the dispensary there will be additional security clearances and the patient will then be ushered into a room where their symptoms and possible cannabis solutions will be discussed. The amount each patient can purchase will be strictly monitored and patients have to pay cash for their cannabis.
The state estimates that some 3,600 patients have completed the registration process to use a cannabis dispensary and it's expected that more patients will sign up as dispensaries open.
The Illinois program is designed to ensure that the cannabis products are carefully controlled from start to finish and that those receiving the cannabis are legitimate patients.
Hopefully, the easing of medical cannabis laws will also allow more research into the benefits of the drug. The United States, because marijuana has been an illegal drug for years, has lagged behind on research into the medical benefits of the plants.
The strictly-controlled environment that the Illinois pilot program requires is understandable. The program should be evaluated and the program extended or made permanent if the cannabis companies prove they can operate safely, and more importantly, provide relief to ill patients.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illinois Cannabis Program Tightly Controlled
Author: Editor
Contact: Herald & Review
Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune
Website: Herald & Review
Those include a questionable location, marijuana dispensers that resemble candy jars and a pair of Cheech and Chong look-alikes manning the cash register.
However, the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program is much different than that. HCI Alternatives is set to open a cannabis dispensary in Springfield in January. That dispensary is expected to serve the Decatur area, at least until other planned dispensaries open in surrounding communities.
The distance to a dispensary may be the least of the hassles for those who seek relief from cannabis.
First, the relief will not come cheaply. It's expected that typical prices for the drug will be in the range of $350 to $475 an ounce and insurance most likely won't cover the cost. The cost is high because the Illinois pilot program is scheduled to end in 2018. Owners want to recoup their investment as quickly as possible and the price would go down dramatically if the pilot program is extended or made permanent.
Getting to the point of purchasing the cannabis won't be easy. Most patients will need a referral form from their doctor and a patient-completed form that requires a photo, proof of residency, age and identity, fingerprints and a $100 application fee. Approval by the state could take several weeks, longer if a patient messes up the required paperwork.
Once approved, a patient then must designate a dispensary that they will visit. At the dispensary there will be additional security clearances and the patient will then be ushered into a room where their symptoms and possible cannabis solutions will be discussed. The amount each patient can purchase will be strictly monitored and patients have to pay cash for their cannabis.
The state estimates that some 3,600 patients have completed the registration process to use a cannabis dispensary and it's expected that more patients will sign up as dispensaries open.
The Illinois program is designed to ensure that the cannabis products are carefully controlled from start to finish and that those receiving the cannabis are legitimate patients.
Hopefully, the easing of medical cannabis laws will also allow more research into the benefits of the drug. The United States, because marijuana has been an illegal drug for years, has lagged behind on research into the medical benefits of the plants.
The strictly-controlled environment that the Illinois pilot program requires is understandable. The program should be evaluated and the program extended or made permanent if the cannabis companies prove they can operate safely, and more importantly, provide relief to ill patients.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Illinois Cannabis Program Tightly Controlled
Author: Editor
Contact: Herald & Review
Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune
Website: Herald & Review
