Since Illinois Medical Marijuana Program began on November 2015, they have gathered almost $1.7million with roughly 4,000 patients partaking in the program. Seems like a big number, but the business owners have reported needing to serve approximately 20,000 – 30,000 customers within the next six months to a year to stabilize the cannabis industry. Thus, the problem.
Illinois only had 4,000 approved patients by the beginning of their medical marijuana program and an additional 400 more by the end of 2015. Operators see that the root of this low patient count is due to the state’s constricting and restrictive regulations. One of the program’s ludicrous prohibitions is not allowing chronic pain or sleep disorders on the list of their qualifying conditions.
Before starting the state’s medical marijuana program, some supporters pushed to add more conditions to the list of qualifying conditions, specifically 11 more conditions including PTSD. Illinois Governor Bruce Rawner, however, vetoed the said proposal thus providing the program with a small list of qualifying conditions, creating a low patient count that is resulting in their current dilemma. It is a possible and impending doom for the state’s medical marijuana program.
At present, on going petition at Change.Org is pushing for additional conditions to Illinois’ medical marijuana program. With the goal of 25,000, the campaign already collected 16,938 signatures and counting. Anyone who favors the cause is urged to sign the petition.