Columbia Care | Chicago Dispensary

If you live in Illinois and have a qualifying medical condition, you’re eligible to participate in the Medical Cannabis Program. You’ll need to obtain a doctor recommendation for medical cannabis and submit a completed patient application.

Please click here for step-by-step instructions on how to get your Illinois medical cannabis card.

What are the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Illinois?

Patients diagnosed with any of the following conditions are eligible to participate in Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Program:

Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
HIV/AIDS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Arnold-Chiari malformation
Cancer
Causalgia
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Crohn’s disease
CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
Dystonia
Fibrous Dysplasia
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
Hydrocephalus
Hydromyelia
Interstitial cystitis
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Myoclonus
Nail-patella syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
Parkinson’s disease
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
Syringomyelia
Tarlov cysts
Tourette syndrome
Traumatic brain injury
Cachexia/wasting syndrome

Please click here for step-by-step instructions on how to get your Illinois medical cannabis card.

How do I know if I qualify for the medical cannabis program?

To qualify for a patient registry identification card, a qualifying patient must:

Be a resident of the state of Illinois at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program.
Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition.
Have a signed physician certification.
Complete the fingerprint-based background check and not have been convicted of an excluded offense (a violent crime as defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act or a felony under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Cannabis Control Act or Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or similar provisions in a local ordinance or other jurisdiction), unless the Department waives such a conviction(s).
Be at least 18 years of age.

Is a veteran required to submit a written certification from their physician?

No. A veteran who has received treatment at a VA hospital is deemed to have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with a VA physician, if the patient has been seen for his or her debilitating condition at the VA hospital in accordance with the VA hospital protocols.

What is the cost to become a medical cannabis patient in Illinois?

Annual qualifying patient application fee is $100
Annual qualifying patient reduced application fee is $50
- For qualifying patients enrolled in the federal Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or the Supplement Security Income (SSI) disability programs, submit a copy of a letter or other documentation form the Social Security Administration identifying the qualifying patient and showing the amount of monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits to be received by the qualifying patient during the current year of application.
- Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214.
Annual caregiver application fee is $25
Replacement card fee is $25
Returned check fee is $35

I have a medical cannabis card from another state. Can I use it to purchase medicine in Illinois?

No. Only Illinois residents can apply for the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program.

How do I find a certified physician?

The Illinois Department of Public Health does not provide a list of doctors and qualified applicants must have a certification from their primary care physician. In order for a physician to certify a qualifying patient for medical cannabis, there must be a bona fide physician-patient relationship. Qualifying patients do not need to see specific doctors and physicians may not accept payment from qualifying patients other than the fee associated with the examination necessary for issuing the written certification.

Do I need to have an Illinois address to qualify for a medical cannabis card?

Yes. All applicants must be a resident of the state of Illinois at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program;

Proof of residency – Attach a copy of any two of the following items:

Pay stub or electronic deposit receipt issued less than 60 days prior to the date of application that shows evidence of the applicant’s withholding for state income tax.
Valid voter registration card with an address in Illinois.
A valid, unexpired Illinois driver’s license or other state identification card issued by the Illinois secretary of state.
Notarized homeless status certification:
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a230.pdf
If you are using this form, you only need this document to prove residency.
Bank statement, dated less than 60 days prior to application.
Deed/title, mortgage, rental/lease agreement.
Insurance policy (homeowner’s or renter’s).
Medical claim or statement of benefits (from private insurance company or government agency), dated less than 90 days prior to application); Social Security Disability Insurance Statement; or Supplemental Security Income Benefits Statement.
Tuition invoice/official mail from college or university, dated less than 12 months prior to application.
Utility bill, including, but not limited to, those for electric, water, refuse, telephone land-line, cable or gas, issued less than 60 days prior to application.

Click here for Medical Cannabis Registry Application.

Will my insurance cover medical cannabis?

No. Insurance will not cover medical cannabis at this time.

How does a veteran qualify for a medical cannabis card?

A qualifying patient who is a veteran and receiving medical care and treatment at a VA hospital must:

Be an Illinois resident and provide two valid items proving residency.
Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition.
Provide a copy of his or her U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official hospital medical records requested on VA form 10-5345. If you have received care for your debilitating medical condition for more than 5 years at a VA facility, you must mark “OTHER” on VA Form 10-5345 under “INFORMATION REQUESTED” then specify that you are requesting information about the treatment of your debilitating medical condition for the most recent 12-month period. Under “PURPOSE(S) OR NEED FOR WHICH THE INFORMATION IS TO BE USED BY INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE RELEASED” write “personal medical purposes.” Under “NAME AND ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION, INDIVIDUAL OR TITLE OF INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE RELEASED” write your address. Once you receive your official medical records, you must submit the medical records with your application.
Provide a copy of his or her DD214 or equivalent certified document indicating character and dates of service.
Complete the fingerprint-based background check and not have been convicted of an excluded offense.
Submit a non-refundable application fee with the signed Registry Identification Card Application to the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Medical Cannabis.

How do I transfer to Columbia Care Illinois?

Per Illinois regulations, “You must have a valid dispensary selection to purchase medical cannabis. You may change your medical cannabis dispensary by selecting another licensed dispensary. There is no charge for this change. To change your dispensary:

Complete the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Selection Form.
You will be contacted by IDPH by phone or email once your dispensary selection is processed.
You will be able to enter your new dispensary 24 hours after you receive confirmation from IDPH.
Dispensary selections can only be made through the Illinois Department of Public Health.

How do I extend my medical cannabis card?

If your medical cannabis card expires soon, you’ll need to apply for an extension as soon as possible. The Department of Public Health will send you an extension form in the mail 60-90 days before your expiration date. Extensions cannot be submitted online, so you’ll want to keep a close eye out for the mailed form.

When filing your extension, you are not required to obtain a new doctor recommendation or submit fingerprints, but it is critical that you submit your extension request more than 10 days before the expiration date on your card. If your card expires before you’ve filed for an extension, you will need to complete a full patient application, including the doctor certification.

Please note that 3 years after your original card was issued, you will need to resubmit a full patient application with up-to-date residency documentation, doctor certification, and fingerprinting, and photo.

For more information on extending your Illinois medical cannabis card click here.

Is there a number I can call in the case of an adverse event?

Toll-free 855-636-3688, 217-782-3300 or TTY (hearing impaired use only) 800-547-0466.

How do I select the right product for me?

Columbia Care offers a range of products designed to meet the unique needs of individual patients. If you’re new to medical cannabis, we encourage you to seek advice from your recommending physician and discussing any questions you have with the dispensary staff before making a purchase. When trying any cannabis product for the first time, it’s important to begin with a small dose until you know how the product affects you.

How does vaporization differ from smoking?

Vaporization involves heating cannabis at a low temperature, which allows the material to produce a mist without actually burning. Inhaling cannabis vapor provides fast-acting symptom relief while removing some of the potentially harmful components produced when smoking.

Physician Questions

How can physicians become eligible to certify patients for medical cannabis in Illinois?

A physician may be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine and must have a current controlled substances license under Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. No other licensed profession (including dentists) may recommend a qualifying patient for medical cannabis use.

What are the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Illinois?

Patients diagnosed with any of the following conditions are eligible to participate in Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Program:

Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
HIV/AIDS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Arnold-Chiari malformation
Cancer
Causalgia
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Crohn’s disease
CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
Dystonia
Fibrous Dysplasia
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
Hydrocephalus
Hydromyelia
Interstitial cystitis
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Myoclonus
Nail-patella syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
Parkinson’s disease
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
Syringomyelia
Tarlov cysts
Tourette syndrome
Traumatic brain injury
Cachexia/wasting syndrome

Please click here for step-by-step instructions on how to get your Illinois medical cannabis card.

General Questions

What does science say about medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis has been studied extensively by the scientific community and a great deal is known about the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant. Americans for Safe Access has some great resources available online for patients and doctors who want to learn more about the science of medical cannabis, including a selection of booklets on the use of medical cannabis to treat specific conditions. We also recommend this article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN who writes about how he became a strong supporter of medical cannabis after researching the issue in depth. Columbia Care is committed to providing our patients with up to date research and development.

Where does the cannabis come from?

All medical marijuana at Columbia Care is produced in Illinois at a licensed manufacturing center. All licensed manufacturing centers in IL are carefully regulated by the IL Department of Public Health and must follow strict guidelines to ensure product safety. Dispensaries may not acquire marijuana products from any source other than the licensed and regulated facilities.

Do you have any employment opportunities available?

Interested in a job in the medical marijuana industry? We are one of the fastest growing providers of medical marijuana and jobs in medical cannabis in the country, so we’re always looking to hire qualified individuals. Check out our full listing of jobs or apply online here.

Thanks for your interest.

Do you offer internships?

We are not currently offering internships.

Dispensary Questions

I’ve never been to a medical cannabis dispensary. How does it work?

A medical marijuana cannabis dispensary is a simple, secure facility designed to provide access for patients to receive their medicine in a safe, welcoming environment. Qualified patients or their caregivers must present their state-issued ID cards at the door. No one else is permitted to enter the establishment other than registered employees attending to the facility. Once inside, patients are greeted by an employee who is trained to answer questions about the medicine and will helps the patient find the right product based on the patient’s individual health needs. The patient or caregiver then makes their selection, purchases the medicine, and exits. Security staff monitor events inside and outside the facility.

Why should I choose Columbia Care as my dispensary?

Quality:We pride ourselves on selecting only the finest medical marijuana products and offering the best quality and value to you, our patients.
Comfort: Our facilities are carefully designed to create a comfortable experience for our patients and caregivers. Our dispensaries will feature wide halls, cozy seating, beautiful plants and art, spacious restrooms, and wheelchair accessibility.
Customer Service: Our staff is friendly, attentive, and highly knowledgeable. We will work hard to maintain a welcoming and safe environment for all our visitors and we’ll do everything we can to make your patient experience a pleasant one.

What do I need to submit with my application?

Click this link for 10 tips to successfully complete your medical cannabis patient registry application: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/publications/publicationsohpmtop10medicalcannabis.pdf

Applications may be completed online at: https://medicalcannabispatients.illinois.gov or submitted by mail to:

Illinois Department of Public Health

Division of Medical Cannabis

535 W. Jefferson St. Springfield, IL 62761-0001

What forms of payment do you accept?

At present we accept cash.

Caregiver Questions

What is a caregiver?

A designated caregiver is a person who is selected by a qualifying patient as the person authorized, on the qualifying patient’s behalf, to possess, obtain from a certified medical cannabis dispensary, dispense and assist in the administration of medical cannabis. Caregivers must enroll in the program. A designated caregiver is issued a medical cannabis registry identification card that allows him/her to possess up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis on behalf of their patient. It is not legal for caregivers to consume, by any means, medical cannabis that has been dispensed on behalf of a registered qualifying patient.

How do I apply to be a designated caregiver?

Complete the designated caregiver section application here at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/forms/caregiver-application-form-080814_0.pdf

Can a caregiver have more than one patient?

No. A caregiver may only serve one patient.

Can a caregiver also be a registered qualifying patient?

No. A caregiver may not be a registered qualifying patient.