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The number of Illinoisans legally allowed to use medical marijuana is slowly growing each month.
New numbers released Wednesday show that 650 people were approved to use the medical product in 2014.
About 1,800 people submitted some or all of the application, which includes a sign-off from a treating doctor. Almost 13,000 people in total began the process online, state spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.
The state reported a month ago that 600 people had been approved while about 11,000 people began the process online. Of those, only 1,600 had submitted at least part of the application.
Some patients have had trouble getting a treating doctor to recommend them to the program, the Chicago Sun-Times reported last month.
"What's missing in Illinois is the ability for doctors to say to their patients 'I think this makes sense for you but I can't make this recommendation because of the policy in my office, but go down the street to a person I know that can do this for you,'" said Chris Lindsey, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project.
Though the numbers are slowly growing, Lindsey said it's nothing to worry about yet.
"We expected that once the systems were up and running and everyone had had a chance to apply ... we expected around 10,000 patients," he said. " I don't think we're necessarily seeing anything right now that suggests we were wrong about that."
Though the medical marijuana program has been in effect for over a year, no legal marijuana is being grown, sold or smoked yet.
Because of that, "The fact that people aren't rushing to get signed up in the registry isn't a big surprise," Lindsey said.
Marijuana entrepreneurs are eagerly awaiting to know who will be granted coveted growing and selling licenses.
State officials blew their self-imposed deadline to award licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois before the end of 2014.
Arnold said no announcement would be made Wednesday.
State officials serving under Gov. Pat Quinn have until early Monday morning to issue the licenses. Quinn said earlier this week his administration is "gonna try" to get it done before he steps down.
Gov-elect Bruce Rauner is sworn in Monday. The inaugural ceremony starts at 11 a.m.
Contributing: Jon Seidel
News Moderator: 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More than 650 people approved to use medical marijuana | Chicago
Author: Becky Schlikerman
Contact: bschlikerman@suntimes.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago | Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports
New numbers released Wednesday show that 650 people were approved to use the medical product in 2014.
About 1,800 people submitted some or all of the application, which includes a sign-off from a treating doctor. Almost 13,000 people in total began the process online, state spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.
The state reported a month ago that 600 people had been approved while about 11,000 people began the process online. Of those, only 1,600 had submitted at least part of the application.
Some patients have had trouble getting a treating doctor to recommend them to the program, the Chicago Sun-Times reported last month.
"What's missing in Illinois is the ability for doctors to say to their patients 'I think this makes sense for you but I can't make this recommendation because of the policy in my office, but go down the street to a person I know that can do this for you,'" said Chris Lindsey, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project.
Though the numbers are slowly growing, Lindsey said it's nothing to worry about yet.
"We expected that once the systems were up and running and everyone had had a chance to apply ... we expected around 10,000 patients," he said. " I don't think we're necessarily seeing anything right now that suggests we were wrong about that."
Though the medical marijuana program has been in effect for over a year, no legal marijuana is being grown, sold or smoked yet.
Because of that, "The fact that people aren't rushing to get signed up in the registry isn't a big surprise," Lindsey said.
Marijuana entrepreneurs are eagerly awaiting to know who will be granted coveted growing and selling licenses.
State officials blew their self-imposed deadline to award licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois before the end of 2014.
Arnold said no announcement would be made Wednesday.
State officials serving under Gov. Pat Quinn have until early Monday morning to issue the licenses. Quinn said earlier this week his administration is "gonna try" to get it done before he steps down.
Gov-elect Bruce Rauner is sworn in Monday. The inaugural ceremony starts at 11 a.m.
Contributing: Jon Seidel
News Moderator: 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More than 650 people approved to use medical marijuana | Chicago
Author: Becky Schlikerman
Contact: bschlikerman@suntimes.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Chicago | Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports
