Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of certain medical conditions.

Highlights:

• Prohibits penalties under state law for the authorized use, possession, distribution, or production of medical marijuana for patients, caregivers, physicians, cultivation centers, and dispensing organizations (Sec. 25).

• Authorizes a physician to prescribe an “adequate supply” of medical marijuana to a “qualifying patient” (Sec. 10).

• Defines “qualifying patient” as an individual diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition including, but not limited to, the following conditions (Sec. 10):
• Cancer;
• Glaucoma;
• Hepatitis C;
• Multiple Sclerosis; or
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.

• Defines “adequate supply” as 2.5 ounces of cannabis during a period of 14 days (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes a qualifying patient to designate a caregiver to assist with the patient’s medical use of cannabis (Sec. 10).

• Requires the Department of Public Health to issue identification cards to qualifying patients and designated caregivers who have submitted a completed application (Sec. 55).

• Requires a registered qualified patient or designated caregiver to carry their identification card in his or her possession when engaging in medical marijuana (Sec. 70).

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to register 22 cultivation centers for the purpose of harvesting cannabis intended for distribution to a dispensing organization (Sec. 105).

• Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from issuing more than 1 cultivation center per each Illinois State Police District boundary (Sec. 85).

• Requires a cultivation center to implement a security plan which includes, but is not limited to, a 24-hour surveillance system to monitor the interior and exterior of the facility (Sec. 105).

• Authorizes the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to issue 60 dispensing organization registrations to applicants geographically dispersed throughout the state  which would allow all registered qualifying patients reasonable proximity and access to a dispensing organization (Sec. 115).

• Requires a dispensing organization to verify that a qualifying patient or a designated caregiver has not exceeded his or her prescribed amount before dispensing medical marijuana to the individual (Sec. 130). 

• Requires an employee of a cultivation center and a dispensing organization to submit a full set of fingerprints for a criminal records check and submit to a background check performed by the State Police (Sec. 95).

• Authorizes the suspension or revocation of a registered qualifying patient’s driver’s license if he or she is operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a valid identification card under the following circumstances (Sec. 935):
• The individual refuses to submit to a field sobriety test; or 
• The individual’s field sobriety test indicates impairment resulting from the consumption of medical marijuana.

• Requires the results of a field sobriety test to be admissible in a civil or criminal trial due to a cannabis-related offense (Sec. 935).

• Authorizes a landlord to prohibit an individual from smoking medical marijuana on the premises (Sec. 40).

• Prohibits a local government or a school district from enacting regulations other than those provided in this bill for medical marijuana organizations (Sec. 140).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of certain medical conditions.

Highlights:

• Prohibits penalties under state law for the authorized use, possession, distribution, or production of medical marijuana for patients, caregivers, physicians, cultivation centers, and dispensing organizations (Sec. 25).

• Authorizes a physician to prescribe an “adequate supply” of medical marijuana to a “qualifying patient” (Sec. 10).

• Defines “qualifying patient” as an individual diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition including, but not limited to, the following conditions (Sec. 10):
• Cancer;
• Glaucoma;
• Hepatitis C;
• Multiple Sclerosis; or
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.

• Defines “adequate supply” as 2.5 ounces of cannabis during a period of 14 days (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes a qualifying patient to designate a caregiver to assist with the patient’s medical use of cannabis (Sec. 10).

• Requires the Department of Public Health to issue identification cards to qualifying patients and designated caregivers who have submitted a completed application (Sec. 55).

• Requires a registered qualified patient or designated caregiver to carry their identification card in his or her possession when engaging in medical marijuana (Sec. 70).

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to register 22 cultivation centers for the purpose of harvesting cannabis intended for distribution to a dispensing organization (Sec. 105).

• Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from issuing more than 1 cultivation center per each Illinois State Police District boundary (Sec. 85).

• Requires a cultivation center to implement a security plan which includes, but is not limited to, a 24-hour surveillance system to monitor the interior and exterior of the facility (Sec. 105).

• Authorizes the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to issue 60 dispensing organization registrations to applicants geographically dispersed throughout the state  which would allow all registered qualifying patients reasonable proximity and access to a dispensing organization (Sec. 115).

• Requires a dispensing organization to verify that a qualifying patient or a designated caregiver has not exceeded his or her prescribed amount before dispensing medical marijuana to the individual (Sec. 130). 

• Requires an employee of a cultivation center and a dispensing organization to submit a full set of fingerprints for a criminal records check and submit to a background check performed by the State Police (Sec. 95).

• Authorizes the suspension or revocation of a registered qualifying patient’s driver’s license if he or she is operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a valid identification card under the following circumstances (Sec. 935):
• The individual refuses to submit to a field sobriety test; or 
• The individual’s field sobriety test indicates impairment resulting from the consumption of medical marijuana.

• Requires the results of a field sobriety test to be admissible in a civil or criminal trial due to a cannabis-related offense (Sec. 935).

• Authorizes a landlord to prohibit an individual from smoking medical marijuana on the premises (Sec. 40).

• Prohibits a local government or a school district from enacting regulations other than those provided in this bill for medical marijuana organizations (Sec. 140).

Full Bill Text