On its third attempt, Illinois lawmakers will try to add Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as condition to the State’s Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that affects some eight million Americans annually, including many military veterans returning from combat as well as victims of violent crimes, such as rape. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical treatments designed or approved to target 
symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD was previously among eight medical conditions the Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board recommended adding to the program. However, the Illinois Department of Public Health, under direction from the administration of Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, rejected all eight conditions.
Governor Rauner also vetoed in 2015, a bill that would have allowed patients suffering from eleven different conditions, including PTSD, to qualify for the state’s medical marijuana program. It was explained at that time that Gov. Rauner did not authorize expanding the program with additional ailments because the medical marijuana program had not yet been fully implemented and it would be premature to expand the qualifying conditions.
The current House Bill 6199 once again attempts to make post-traumatic stress patients eligible for medical marijuana in Illinois.