Prospective patients, please visit our Patient’s page for the most up to date information on how to sign up for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program (MCPP) and the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP) to access medical cannabis.
On August 28th, 2018, Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 336, the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018, which amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. There are several components to the provisions of Senate Bill 336 of which patients and prospective patients should be aware.
- Fingerprinting is no longer needed to apply for the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program (MCPP) or the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP) to access medical cannabis.
- Excluded offenses that previously limited the participation of certain prospective patients have been removed. All prospective patients may now apply.
- Creates the OAPP which allows patients that currently have or qualify for an opioid prescription the alternative to treat their condition with medical cannabis.
- Allows provisional access for all electronic applicants after January 31st, 2019. As long as your physician has submitted his paperwork and your application is submitted electronically, patients will be able to receive either a temporary ID card and next day access (for MCPP patients) or their actual ID card and immediate access (for OAPP patients) to a licensed dispensary of their choosing.
For Opioid Participants – What You Need to Know
The Illinois Department of Health is still working on the launch and implementation of the OAPP. The program is expected to go live on January 31st, 2019. Both Patients and Physicians may apply and register online using the OAPP Online Application Portal.
- The OAPP goes live on January 31st of 2019.
- Prospective patients will need to see their physician. The physician will have to register with the state and submit the required paperwork using an electronic PIN on the OAPP Online Application Portal. Patients do not need a Physician Certification Form for the Opioid program. Use the Contact Us page to request a list of participating physicians within the state. We have no relationship with any licensed physicians.
- OAPP patients will apply using the same OAPP Online Application Portal. They will need the following information to complete their application:
- Name, address, and general information
- Passport style photo
- State issued ID
- Proof of residency (bill or statement matching the address on your ID)
- Your physician’s information
- Your desired dispensary (please note, due to the state system, opioid patients will not be able to switch dispensaries and must stick with their original chosen provider. When reapplying, patients may switch at that time, which is every 90 days). OAPP patients signing up with The Dispensary Fulton in District 1 will receive an automatic $10 discount on their first visit and purchase.
- $10 application fee paid to the State of Illinois via electronic payment
- A private email address to receive your patient ID via email
- After applying, the state will verify your information and match it to your physician’s submission. Within minutes, you will be emailed your patient ID and will be able to purchase from a licensed dispensary which is valid for 90 days assuming your physician has submitted their required information.
- Patients may purchase up to 2.5 ounces every 14 days, with concentrates and edibles subtracting from that limit according to state developed algorithms.
- No plastic or hard cards will be given for the OAPP, only paper cards delivered via email.
Additionally, The Dispensary Fulton in District 1 has a public access lobby area. For those that are intimidated by the process or don’t have access to a computer and scanner, we are happy to assist. Bring a state issued ID and your application materials, and our staff will help you apply, including scanning any documents, taking your picture for the passport photo, and assisting with your application submission.
Please remember, your physician must submit his paperwork prior to your final approval. We can help you start your application prior to your physician submitting his paperwork; however, you will not be able to complete the process until the physician has uploaded the necessary documents to the state application system and entered their registration PIN.
Come in, sit down, ask questions about the program, and apply. We are here to assist.
For MCPP Participants – What You Need to Know
For current MCPP patients that already have their cards, there are no immediate changes. Stop by and visit your selected dispensary just as you always have.
For prospective patients that apply online after January 31st, 2019, as well as patients that applied electronically between December 1st, 2018 and January 31st, 2019, these patients will gain ‘provisional’ access to licensed dispensaries for next day access assuming all documents have been uploaded starting February 2nd, 2019. The state system will verify your documentation when submitted, compare to your physician’s submission, and provide a temporary patient card the following day to allow access to licensed dispensaries for all applications submitted prior to 6PM. Applications submitted after 6PM will be processed the following day.
Visit the Online Patient Application Portal and login with your username and password to view and print your provisional registration.
Please note, patients with provisional access cannot change their dispensary until their application has been formally approved (within 90 days). Select our dispensary (The Dispensary Fulton, District 1) as your provisional dispensary and receive an automatic $10 discount on your first visit and purchase.
Prospective patients are no longer limited by excluded offenses (felony, drug, and domestic violence convictions) and no longer require fingerprints for their application. These changes are active immediately.
To see step by step how to sign up for the MCPP, visit our Patient’s page for more information.
For More Information
The Illinois Department of Health is still working on the implementation and launch of this process and program changes. We will keep patients informed as more information is delivered.
Please visit our Patient’s page for more information which will be updated as it becomes available, and follow our social media for additional updates.
Come in, sit down, ask questions about the program, and apply. We are here to assist.
