3 year medical marijuana certificate on its own = $199 at Leafwell

Medical cannabis certificate for minors = $299 at Leafwell

State application fee (recommend 3 years to match certificate)

  • 1 year – $50
  • 2 years – $100
  • 3 years – $125

Renewal fee = $199 at Leafwell

In Illinois, the following conditions may qualify you for a medical marijuana certificate and card:

– Autism
– Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
– Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
– Anorexia nervosa
– Arnold-Chiari malformation
– Cancer
– Cachexia/wasting syndrome
– Causalgia
– Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
– Chronic pain
– Crohn’s disease
– CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
– Dystonia
– Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
– Fibrous Dysplasia
– Glaucoma
– Hepatitis C
– HIV/AIDS
– Hydrocephalus
– Hydromyelia
– Interstitial cystitis
– Irritable bowel syndrome
– Lupus
– Migraines
– Multiple Sclerosis
– Muscular Dystrophy
– Myasthenia Gravis
– Myoclonus
– Nail-patella syndrome
– Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
– Neurofibromatosis
– Neuropathy
– Osteoarthritis
– Parkinson’s disease
– Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
– Post-Concussion Syndrome
– Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
– Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
– Residual limb pain
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Seizures (including those characteristic of Epilepsy)
– Severe fibromyalgia
– Sjogren’s syndrome
– Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
– Spinal cord injury is damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
– Spinocerebellar ataxia
– Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
– Syringomyelia
– Tarlov cysts
– Tourette syndrome
– Traumatic brain injury
– Ulcerative colitis

You must be at least 18 years of age in order to apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois. Caregivers must be over 21 years of age.

In Illinois, you can possess the following amounts with a valid MMJ Card:


– Up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis over a 14-day period. Patients may apply for a waiver in order to be allowed to possess more.- Concentrates: 500 mg of THC-infused products or 5 grams of concentrate for all Illinois residents, medical or not.
– 250 mg of THC-infused product or 2.5 grams of concentrate for non-Illinois residents as of 01/01/2020.

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification. Here’s a guide to what you need to do next.

If you’re an existing medical card holder, click here for renewal instructions.

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

  • A digital photograph (taken within the last 30 days – passport style)

  • Proof of age and identity (e.g. IL driving license or state ID)

  • A credit card to pay for the state application 

If applicable:

  • A Benefit Verification Letter (or DD214)

Getting Your Illinois Medical Marijuana Card

  1. Click here (https://etk.icts.illinois.gov/) and click on MCPP Patient Registration 

  2. Complete the requested information and click ‘Register’ 

  3. You’ll be sent an email notification with a temporary password

    1. Log back in with the temporary password and you’ll be able to change it to something memorable by clicking ‘My Account’, then ‘Password’

  4. Click ‘+New MCPP Patient Registration’

  5. Complete the rest of the information required
    1. if you are applying as a minor, click here for more detailed instructions 
    2. if you are applying with a terminal condition, click here for more detailed instructions
  6. You can choose to get a card for 1, 2 or 3 years (your certificate from Leafwell is valid for 3 years and if you do not renew your 1 or 2 year card in time, you may be charged a resubmission fee by Leafwell)
    1. 1 year = $50
    2. 2 years = $100
    3. 3 years – $125 – Recommended
  7. If you need a caregiver, you can add their information under the caretaker tab (click for more detailed instructions on this process)
    1. For more information for caregivers, click here
  8. Complete your personal information. Your name must match what the doctor entered. No middle names, or initials.
  9. Upload your proof of identity
  10.  You can upload proof that you are eligible for reduced fees if relevant
  11. At the bottom of the terms and conditions, you can type your name into the box to act as a digital signature
  12. Click ‘Save’
  13. You then need to attach the Healthcare Professional Certificate
    1. Click on the ‘Provider Certification’ tab
    2. There is a blank text box. Click on the ‘+New’ button and it will open a drop down. Your certification number should be there.
      1. Please note: If your certification is not displayed, ensure that there are no middle names or initials on your state application! The name needs to be as it appeared on your original Leafwell registration.
    3. Click on the Health Care Professional Certification Number drop-down box.
    4. Your certificate number will be auto-populated in the drop-down box and start with PC. Our providers aim to get your certificates uploaded within 24 hours. If the certificate does not appear within 48 hours, please contact support@leafwell.com.
  14. Pay for your application and finalise your application 

  15. You will be directed back to the “Patient Registration” tab. Your status will show “SOS Check” until the card is ready.

  16. Click on Initial Application under “Tracking Inbox” and you will see “Provisional Letter” to print out.  This can be used to legally purchase cannabis until your digital card is ready. It typically is available 24-48 hours after you complete your application. 

    1. Here are the instructions for printing your letter

  17. Once the state has fully processed your approval, which can take up to 45 days, you can access your digital card.

Additional Instructions
Qualifying Patient Application Instructions
Qualifying Patient Application Instructions with a Caregiver

In addition to contacting Leafwell, free help is available for patients through participating local health departments. Click here for a list of participating locations.

There are two types of renewals in Illinois :

  1. An extension renewal, which is a yearly incremental renewal for patients that did not purchase a three-year card at the onset of registering and wish to continue with the Medical Cannabis Patient Program. No Physician Written Certification is required for this type of extension.
    1. Instructions can be found here
    2. Please note, this system changed on 22nd June, 2021 so if your certificate is not in the system, please contact support@leafwell.com for assistance
  1. A full Recertification renewal, a renewal for patients that have had their cards for three years or whose card has expired. Full recertification renewal will require patients to go see their certifying health care professional for a new updated physician certification as well as additional documents. Be sure to read all renewal letters in their entirety.
    1. Instructions can be found here
    2. After submitting payment to the state, you will receive an email notification. You can continue to use your current card until it expires.
      1. Please note: The new expiration date will not be shown on your account until after the current card expires. Once expired, you will be able to print or download your updated card the next day.

Notification prior to renewal:

IDPH will mail a courtesy letter about your extension renewal (one-year incremental renewal) approximately 45 days prior to the expiration date on the medical cannabis registry card. 

DPH will mail a courtesy letter about your full recertification renewals (three-year cards) five months prior to the expiration date on the medical cannabis registry card, along with a Physician Written Certification.

Telemedicine for medical cannabis is legal in Illinois. Therefore Leafwell’s services are accessible via telehealth in Illinois.

Illinois medical marijuana certificates are valid for one, two or three years, depending on which card you are applying for. When you use Leafwell to obtain your certificate, we’ll send you a reminder email one month before your card is due to expire to make sure you have plenty of time to submit your renewal application.

There are three simple steps to seeing a Leafwell provider in Illinois to obtain your medical marijuana card:

1. Create a Leafwell account using a valid email address and choosing a password. You’ll then be asked to complete a brief questionnaire of personal and health information and to either take or upload a photograph of identification (Leafwell is required by law to verify your identity). You will need a smartphone, computer, or tablet with a reliable internet connection and a working camera to be seen by a Leafwell provider.

2. Next, you will be taken to the virtual waiting room where you’ll be connected Leafwell provider for a video chat (i.e., a virtual doctor’s visit). (You will receive a text message to your cell phone when the provider is ready to see you.) During the video chat, the provider will assess your health situation to determine if you qualify for a medical marijuana certification.

3. If you are approved for a medical marijuana card, you’ll be sent a copy of your certificate letter via email.

Yes, Leafwell can help you renew your medical marijuana certificate and card. If you’re a returning patient, all your information is stored in our HIPAA-compliant platform, and the process is quick and easy. If you are not already a Leafwell patient, click here to create an account and complete your renewal.

In Illinois, you can get a medical marijuana card for a minor with parental/guardian consent. Medical marijuana has been proven to be effective for many conditions suffered by children. The Leafwell providers understand this and frequently work with parents to help them get their children the medical care they need. In Illinois, the minor will need certifications from two physicians.

Yes, medical marijuana patients in Illinois can have a caregiver. To apply as a caregiver, follow this process:

  1. Patient must get certified by a physician.
  2. Caregiver must complete the following application form: 
    https://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/forms/medicalcannabis-caregiver-application-17-100316.pdf
  3. You will also need to consent to give your fingerprints. You will also need to pay application fees. Don’t forget to provide a passport-style photograph as well.
  4. If qualified, you will receive a caregiver’s identification card.

Yes, a Medical Marijuana patient or their caregiver can grow up to five mature plants. Recreational cannabis users cannot grow marijuana in their homes in Illinois.

Here is an overview of the medical marijuana laws in Illinois:

1978 – The Cannabis Control Act technically allows medical marijuana but was never actioned by state departments

2013 – House Bill 1 (HB 1) is approved and signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn, entitled “The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act”. This established the right for patients and their appointed caregivers to be protected from arrest, prosecution or denial of any right or privilege. Provisions for cultivation centers and dispensaries are also outlined.

2014 – Department of Public Health released revised rules for the implementation of medical marijuana laws.

2014 – Governor Quinn signs Senate Bill 2636 (SB 2636), which allows for those aged under 18 to access non-smokable medical cannabis for all the same conditions those aged 18 or over can be recommended cannabis. Epilepsy is added to the list of qualifying conditions.

2016 – Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) extends the Illinois Pilot Program to 2020.

No, there is not a public database of Medical Marijuana Card holders in Illinois.

If you have a medical marijuana card or certificate letter, you can buy cannabis in Illinois at a licensed dispensary or use a licensed delivery service. 

Also, you can grow your own cannabis – up to five plants per household.