Days after passing a bill legalizing recreational marijuana, the Illinois Senate approved legislation making Illinois’ medical marijuana program permanent.
The program, put into place in 2013, is set to expire next summer.
Senate Bill 2023, approved Sunday by the Senate and by the House on Saturday, also would expand the list of medical conditions where patients could use marijuana for relief. The additions include migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and anorexia nervosa. The list of conditions would increase to 54 different ailments.
Now, only doctors can certify a patient’s eligibility for medicinal marijuana. If Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the bill, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants would be able to as well.
