Do You Certify Patients for Medical Cannabis?

October 13, 2023

Find out what physicians need to know!

Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Patient Program (MCPP) allows persons diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition to register with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to obtain cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The program has grown during the past nine years. As of Sept. 30, 2023, IDPH approved applications for 296,536 qualifying patients since it began in 2014. The current total number of active patients in the MCPP program is 138,837.

ISMS’ resource, Medical Cannabis, covers what physicians need to know, including details about the process for certifying patients, the requirements for the necessary written certifications for adults and minors, and the specific debilitating medical conditions that qualify a patient for medical cannabis.

Members can also access ISMS’ Tips for Certifying Patients for Medical Cannabis Cards, which includes important points to keep in mind when deciding whether to certify a patient. For example, when providing written certification for a patient, there should be a witness in the room, such as another physician, nurse or staff member. The resource also includes a sample patient agreement that you could use when certifying for medical cannabis, which should be copied and kept in the patient’s medical record.

While recreational cannabis is legal in Illinois, higher taxes are imposed on non-medical purchases.