Illinois residents who want to add specific diseases to the state's medical marijuana pilot program have another chance to submit suggestions during January. The Illinois Department of Public Health will accept petitions starting Jan. 1 and continuing through the month. The program allows people to suggest new diseases for the program twice annually, in January and July. An advisory board reviews suggestions and makes recommendations.
So far, no new conditions have been added to the 39 listed in the original law. Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration rejected 11 new conditions in September over the board's recommendations. Another set of recommendations awaits the administration's decision, which is due Feb. 1. Illinois has approved 3,600 residents as marijuana patients. Regulated medical marijuana sales began Nov. 9 in Illinois.