The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has approved four more qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program, bringing the total number to 56.
The new approvals are the first to be added to the list since 2019, and all in relation to conditions impacting women. The conditions are:
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian Cysts
- Uterine fibroids
- Female orgasmic disorder
The additions are effective immediately, meaning providers can begin certifying patients with those conditions for treatment with medical cannabis.
New qualifying conditions can be added to the state’s program through a petitioning process that is open to the public.
“IDPH reviews petitions carefully using expert opinion and the most up to date evidence to make decisions that best serve Illinois residents,” said IDPH Director, Dr. Sameer Voh. “IDPH looks forward to working with our medical providers to ensure appropriate access for individuals struggling with these newly approved conditions.”
The updated list of qualifying conditions can be viewed here.
Illinois became the 20th state to give the green light to a medical cannabis program in August 2013. The IDPH manages the patient registry and issues related ID cards. The state also legalized recreational use, with purchases kicking off on January 1, 2020.
IDPH has approved 356,561 patient applications since it began accepting them on September 2, 2014. The current total number of active patients in the program as at December 31, 2024 was 138,497; down on December 2023’s total of 140,342. This is a common trend where medical states subsequently legalize marijuana for adult use, but in Illinois, the drop-off doesn’t appear to be as significant as in some other states. Cultivators and dispensaries in Illinois are required to reserve sufficient supply to ensure patient access is not interrupted.
As at the end of last year, there were 55 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in the state. In 2024, there were more than $285,000,000 in retail sales of medical cannabis. Licensed dispensaries served 59,441 unique patients in 2024, who purchased 1.3 tonnes of dried cannabis in total. Under the program, various other forms are also permitted.
Total retail sales by licensed medical cannabis dispensaries since November 2015 had reached $2.248 billion by the end of 2024.
