Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
West central Illinois residents may be able to purchase and use medical marijuana as early as this fall and an organization called Medical Cannabis Outreach is offering educational seminars on the subject.
Fulton County was recently approved for a dispensary and cultivation facility. The dispensary is named Savleo Health and Wellness and is located at the Basement Dewatering Plaza in Canton. The cultivation facility is Nature's Grace and Wellness, which will be established in rural Vermont, located near the border of Fulton and McDonough Counties. Nature's Grace and Wellness, owned by the family of Larry O'Hern, will be the only family-owned marijuana cultivation facility in the State of Illinois.
Only one of each type of facility was awarded per Illinois State Police District, with Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, McDonough and Warren Counties consisting of Police District 14.
Caprice Sweatt, founder and president of Medical Cannabis Outreach, led a seminar Wednesday evening at the Basement Dewatering Plaza. She discussed applying for the medical marijuana program and the different types and forms of cannabis.
Sweatt, a Canton native, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 17 and uses medical marijuana to cope with her illness. Sweatt says that using medical cannabis has helped manage the pain more effectively than other prescription medication.
She moved to Colorado in the 1990s and was involved with the cultivation and dispensary business there, as was her husband Eric.
Sweatt and her husband moved back to the Canton area about four years ago due to an illness in the family. Sweatt now advocates medical marijuana education and offers free consultation to individuals.
Application Process
Those who have a qualifying medical condition may apply for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program online or by mail.
The qualifying medical conditions incorporate a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, severe fibromyalgia, Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy and other ailments.
There is a $100 fee to apply for the registry card, which lasts for one year. After the first year, each additional year is $25. For disabled individuals and veterans, the cost for the first year is $50.
A background check is required and applicants must submit a picture of themselves and fingerprints. There is a $60 cost to get fingerprinted, and Medical Cannabis Outreach will help applicants get fingerprinted.
Applicants can only choose one dispensary to purchase from. They will be allowed to later change dispensaries.
Sweatt said it's currently taking about 45 to 60 days to get initial approval letters. Medical marijuana registry identification cards will be mailed out once the dispensaries are close to opening.
Doctors do not prescribe medical marijuana but recommend it. A physician's recommendation is required for the application.
According to Sweatt, there are special forms that doctors complete and send to the state. The state then runs the forms through the system, where they are checked to ensure there are no duplicate recommendations and that the patient has the proper paperwork completed.
Scott Miller, CEO of Salveo Health and Wellness, said the dispensary will officially open when medical cannabis products become available. Miller has partnered with Jerry Jarnagin to establish Savleo, the name of which translates to "be well" in Latin.
Miller hopes that cultivation facilities will have product available for purchase this fall. He said he will not open Savleo until product is available because the one year time limit on the customers' registry cards begin when the dispensary opens.
The Product
Sweatt said there are two main strains of cannabis: indica and satvia.
Satvia is mind dominate, meaning that it impacts the mind and assists in such issues as anxiety and lack of energy. Indica, on the other hand, is body dominate and sedates the patient, reduces nausea, treats pain and is a muscle relaxant.
Sweatt notes that satvia is more of a day time treatment while indica is more of a night time treatment and indica patients should stay at home while consuming it because of its effects on the body.
All other strains of cannabis is a combination of indica and sativa and are referred to as hybrids.
The most well-known form of medical marijuana are flowers and buds, commonly referred to as dry product, which is smoked.
Other forms include edibles, oils, extracts, concentrates, transdermal patches, capsules and topical creams.
Sweatt cautions that edibles and concentrates have higher potency than flowers and buds and medical marijuana users need to pay attention to dosage when consuming these forms.
Medical marijuana patients will be allowed to purchase a maximum of 2.5 grams of dry product every two weeks. Sweatt noted that the State of Illinois has yet to decide the maximum amount of the other forms of cannabis patients will be able to purchase.
Only medical marijuana patients and their caregivers will be allowed inside dispensaries and they will be required to have their registry cards with them.
Purchased cannabis will come sealed and labeled with the patient's name on it and the product's THC level.
THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid in marijuana that causes psychoactive effects.
Miller said the cost of the cannabis products will depend on the cultivation facilities.
It will still be illegal for medical cannabis patients to grow their own marijuana, but they will be allowed to cook with it.
Safety
Above all, Sweatt stressed the importance of being responsible while using medical marijuana.
She advised that once a patient purchases cannabis, he or she directly drives home to either consume it or put it in proper storage. Sweatt said patients should not open the marijuana products in their vehicles or drive under the influence.
Also, patients should always have their registry cards with them when they have the cannabis on them.
Medical cannabis products should always be locked up and away from children and pets.
Both Salveo Health and Wellness and Nature's Grace and Wellness will have tight security, with the dispensary having motion detecting cameras and panic buttons while the cultivation facility will have full-time security guards, barb wire fences, 24/7 security cameras and other security details.
Cannabis products at Salveo will be locked behind glass display cases and will be put into safes each night.
Sweatt noted that law enforcement officers in Colorado were trained on dealing with medical marijuana and she expects the same to happen in Illinois.
As with any drug, the use of marijuana comes with risks, including dependency.
Sweatt urges anyone who is considering using medical marijuana to research the risks and discuss the subject with their family, friends and health care professionals before making a decision.
The Future
There are currently 23 states that have legalized medical cannabis and Sweatt says there are another seven that are considering it.
Medical marijuana is still federally prohibited in the U.S., but may eventually be legalized as the CARERS Act is in the Senate.
If passed, the CARERS Act will allow states to set their own medical marijuana policies without fear of federal prosecution and would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance.
Sweatt said if the CARERS Act is passed, there is a possibility that medical marijuana may eventually be covered by Medicare and insurance.
Certain hospitals are also creating new policies that would allow patients who use medical marijuana to use non-smoking cannabis products inside the hospital, Sweatt said.
Science is also changing the field of medical marijuana as certain strains are being genetically modified to target certain illnesses.
Additionally, 11 new conditions are being recommended by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to add to the qualifying conditions list, including anorexia nervoas, migraine, post-traumatic stress disorder and others.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Residents learn facts of medical marijuana during seminar - News - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL - Canton, IL
Author: Hannah Schrodt
Contact: Contact - Canton, IL - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Home - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL - Canton, IL
Fulton County was recently approved for a dispensary and cultivation facility. The dispensary is named Savleo Health and Wellness and is located at the Basement Dewatering Plaza in Canton. The cultivation facility is Nature's Grace and Wellness, which will be established in rural Vermont, located near the border of Fulton and McDonough Counties. Nature's Grace and Wellness, owned by the family of Larry O'Hern, will be the only family-owned marijuana cultivation facility in the State of Illinois.
Only one of each type of facility was awarded per Illinois State Police District, with Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, McDonough and Warren Counties consisting of Police District 14.
Caprice Sweatt, founder and president of Medical Cannabis Outreach, led a seminar Wednesday evening at the Basement Dewatering Plaza. She discussed applying for the medical marijuana program and the different types and forms of cannabis.
Sweatt, a Canton native, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 17 and uses medical marijuana to cope with her illness. Sweatt says that using medical cannabis has helped manage the pain more effectively than other prescription medication.
She moved to Colorado in the 1990s and was involved with the cultivation and dispensary business there, as was her husband Eric.
Sweatt and her husband moved back to the Canton area about four years ago due to an illness in the family. Sweatt now advocates medical marijuana education and offers free consultation to individuals.
Application Process
Those who have a qualifying medical condition may apply for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program online or by mail.
The qualifying medical conditions incorporate a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, severe fibromyalgia, Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy and other ailments.
There is a $100 fee to apply for the registry card, which lasts for one year. After the first year, each additional year is $25. For disabled individuals and veterans, the cost for the first year is $50.
A background check is required and applicants must submit a picture of themselves and fingerprints. There is a $60 cost to get fingerprinted, and Medical Cannabis Outreach will help applicants get fingerprinted.
Applicants can only choose one dispensary to purchase from. They will be allowed to later change dispensaries.
Sweatt said it's currently taking about 45 to 60 days to get initial approval letters. Medical marijuana registry identification cards will be mailed out once the dispensaries are close to opening.
Doctors do not prescribe medical marijuana but recommend it. A physician's recommendation is required for the application.
According to Sweatt, there are special forms that doctors complete and send to the state. The state then runs the forms through the system, where they are checked to ensure there are no duplicate recommendations and that the patient has the proper paperwork completed.
Scott Miller, CEO of Salveo Health and Wellness, said the dispensary will officially open when medical cannabis products become available. Miller has partnered with Jerry Jarnagin to establish Savleo, the name of which translates to "be well" in Latin.
Miller hopes that cultivation facilities will have product available for purchase this fall. He said he will not open Savleo until product is available because the one year time limit on the customers' registry cards begin when the dispensary opens.
The Product
Sweatt said there are two main strains of cannabis: indica and satvia.
Satvia is mind dominate, meaning that it impacts the mind and assists in such issues as anxiety and lack of energy. Indica, on the other hand, is body dominate and sedates the patient, reduces nausea, treats pain and is a muscle relaxant.
Sweatt notes that satvia is more of a day time treatment while indica is more of a night time treatment and indica patients should stay at home while consuming it because of its effects on the body.
All other strains of cannabis is a combination of indica and sativa and are referred to as hybrids.
The most well-known form of medical marijuana are flowers and buds, commonly referred to as dry product, which is smoked.
Other forms include edibles, oils, extracts, concentrates, transdermal patches, capsules and topical creams.
Sweatt cautions that edibles and concentrates have higher potency than flowers and buds and medical marijuana users need to pay attention to dosage when consuming these forms.
Medical marijuana patients will be allowed to purchase a maximum of 2.5 grams of dry product every two weeks. Sweatt noted that the State of Illinois has yet to decide the maximum amount of the other forms of cannabis patients will be able to purchase.
Only medical marijuana patients and their caregivers will be allowed inside dispensaries and they will be required to have their registry cards with them.
Purchased cannabis will come sealed and labeled with the patient's name on it and the product's THC level.
THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid in marijuana that causes psychoactive effects.
Miller said the cost of the cannabis products will depend on the cultivation facilities.
It will still be illegal for medical cannabis patients to grow their own marijuana, but they will be allowed to cook with it.
Safety
Above all, Sweatt stressed the importance of being responsible while using medical marijuana.
She advised that once a patient purchases cannabis, he or she directly drives home to either consume it or put it in proper storage. Sweatt said patients should not open the marijuana products in their vehicles or drive under the influence.
Also, patients should always have their registry cards with them when they have the cannabis on them.
Medical cannabis products should always be locked up and away from children and pets.
Both Salveo Health and Wellness and Nature's Grace and Wellness will have tight security, with the dispensary having motion detecting cameras and panic buttons while the cultivation facility will have full-time security guards, barb wire fences, 24/7 security cameras and other security details.
Cannabis products at Salveo will be locked behind glass display cases and will be put into safes each night.
Sweatt noted that law enforcement officers in Colorado were trained on dealing with medical marijuana and she expects the same to happen in Illinois.
As with any drug, the use of marijuana comes with risks, including dependency.
Sweatt urges anyone who is considering using medical marijuana to research the risks and discuss the subject with their family, friends and health care professionals before making a decision.
The Future
There are currently 23 states that have legalized medical cannabis and Sweatt says there are another seven that are considering it.
Medical marijuana is still federally prohibited in the U.S., but may eventually be legalized as the CARERS Act is in the Senate.
If passed, the CARERS Act will allow states to set their own medical marijuana policies without fear of federal prosecution and would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance.
Sweatt said if the CARERS Act is passed, there is a possibility that medical marijuana may eventually be covered by Medicare and insurance.
Certain hospitals are also creating new policies that would allow patients who use medical marijuana to use non-smoking cannabis products inside the hospital, Sweatt said.
Science is also changing the field of medical marijuana as certain strains are being genetically modified to target certain illnesses.
Additionally, 11 new conditions are being recommended by the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to add to the qualifying conditions list, including anorexia nervoas, migraine, post-traumatic stress disorder and others.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Residents learn facts of medical marijuana during seminar - News - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL - Canton, IL
Author: Hannah Schrodt
Contact: Contact - Canton, IL - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Home - Canton Daily Ledger - Canton, IL - Canton, IL
