HOW TO GET
An Illinois Medical
Marijuana Card
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Illinois Department of Public Health and 410 ILCS 130, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
To get an Illinois medical marijuana card, you need a written certification from a physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant who is licensed in Illinois and holds an Illinois controlled substances license (410 ILCS 130/35). The certification must be dated within 90 days before you apply. You then apply in the IDPH Cannabis Portal with a State of Illinois ILogin account (IDPH), as an Illinois resident. The card costs $50 for 1 year, $100 for 2 years or $125 for 3 years; IDPH may reduce it for veterans, people 65 or older and some other groups, and waives all fees for terminal illness.
Illinois Issues a Digital Registry Card Through IDPH
Illinois calls the credential a medical cannabis registry identification card, and the Illinois Department of Public Health issues it through the Medical Cannabis Patient Program. IDPH stopped mailing cards on June 22, 2021: an approved card now sits in your patient account, ready to print or download. The program runs under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act and the IDPH rule, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 946.
Your Illinois Video Evaluation and the In-Person Exam Rule
Dr. Green Relief offers video evaluations for Illinois patients for $189. That fee covers the evaluation only: the state card fee is paid to IDPH, and no one may charge you for help preparing or submitting your IDPH application (410 ILCS 130/55(c)).
Before you book, know the Illinois exam rule: IDPH calls for an “in-person full assessment” that includes “a personal physical examination,” not more than 90 days before certifying (77 Ill. Adm. Code 946.300(a)(4)). The same rule says the care relationship may not be limited to issuing a written certification, and the professional must take responsibility for ongoing care of your condition (946.300(a)(1), (3)). If you are a veteran treated at a VA facility, you may not need a visit at all: IDPH accepts 12 months of VA medical records instead of a certification (IDPH Veterans Requirements).
Illinois law says the exam may be done by telemedicine (410 ILCS 130/35(a)(3)), but the IDPH rule and the certification form still call for an in-person physical examination and an ongoing care relationship (77 Ill. Adm. Code 946.300), so a video visit alone may not be enough for an Illinois certification; check with IDPH before you book.
| Fee | Amount | Term | Waiver or reduction | Who is paid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Green Relief video evaluation | $189 | Per evaluation | None | Dr. Green Relief | Dr. Green Relief price |
| Patient registry card | $50, $100 or $125 | 1, 2 or 3 years, as you choose | IDPH may reduce it to $25, $50 or $75 for SSI or SSDI, veterans, Railroad Retirement, TRS or SURS disability, age 65 or older, WIC, LIHEAP, SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, and people experiencing homelessness; all fees waived for terminal illness | IDPH; nonrefundable | IDPH fees; 946.210 |
| Minor patient registry card | $50, $100 or $125 | 1, 2 or 3 years | One caregiver included at no charge | IDPH; nonrefundable | IDPH fees |
| Lifelong condition card | $50 | Every 3 years | Not applicable | IDPH; nonrefundable | 946.210(d) |
| Designated caregiver card | $25, $50 or $75 | Ends with the patient card | None stated | IDPH; nonrefundable | IDPH fees |
| Replacement card | $25 | Each replacement | None stated | IDPH; nonrefundable | 946.210(a)(4) |
| Help with the IDPH application | No charge allowed by law | Not applicable | Free help at certified local health departments | Not applicable | IDPH Application Help |
| Opioid Alternative Patient Program registration | $10 | Each 90-day registration | None stated | IDPH | IDPH OAPP |
GET A WRITTEN CERTIFICATION FIRST
Your certifying health care professional creates the certification in the IDPH portal, and it must be dated within 90 days before you apply (130/55(a)(1)). The IDPH rule calls for an in-person full assessment, including a personal physical examination, within 90 days before certifying (946.300(a)(4)). Veterans treated at a VA facility may upload VA records instead (IDPH Veterans Requirements).
APPLY IN THE IDPH CANNABIS PORTAL
Sign in with a State of Illinois ILogin account, choose your pathway and select the certification number from your professional (IDPH Logging In). Upload a passport size photo taken within 30 days, your ID and, if the address on your ID differs, proof of Illinois residence. Then choose 1, 2 or 3 years and pay the fee (IDPH fees).
USE YOUR PROVISIONAL LETTER, THEN CARD
After you submit a completed application with a certification, you can generate a provisional letter (IDPH Signature Verification). With it and a driver’s license or state ID, you may buy up to 2.5 ounces per 14 days at a licensed dispensing organization for 90 days, or until you are denied or receive your card, whichever is earlier.
Qualifying Medical Conditions
Who Can Certify You in Illinois
Illinois calls this person a certifying health care professional: a physician (MD or DO), an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant who is licensed in Illinois, in good standing, and holds an Illinois controlled substances license (130/10(d-5); 130/35(a)(1)). The professional registers with IDPH to issue certifications, must have an ongoing care relationship with you, and may not refer you to a dispensing organization or advertise in one (130/35(b)(6), (7)).
Illinois Medical Card Requirements
Do I have to live in Illinois to get a card?
Yes. You must be an Illinois resident when you apply and stay one while you are in the program, which the rule defines as physically living in Illinois or having taken verifiable steps to make it your home (946.200(b), (c)). Illinois has no visiting patient registration, and it does not accept cards from other states (IDPH Reciprocity).
Can a patient under 18 get an Illinois card?
Yes, through a caregiver. A parent or legal guardian applies, and the minor needs two certifications from different professionals, a recommending one and a reviewing one; a terminally ill minor needs only one (IDPH Minor Qualifying Patients). The fee is $50, $100 or $125 with one caregiver included. Minor patients may use only infused products, not usable cannabis (130/60(b)).
Who cannot use medical cannabis in Illinois?
State law does not permit medical cannabis use by active duty police officers, correctional officers, correctional probation officers or firefighters, or by anyone with a school bus permit or a Commercial Driver’s License (130/30(a)(9), (10)). The rule says applicants must surrender those permits or licenses before they apply (946.25(f)).
What should I bring to my visit and to my IDPH application?
- A driver’s license, state ID or passport (IDPH Proof of Identity).
- Proof of Illinois residence if your ID shows a different address, such as a utility bill dated within the last 60 days, a lease or a mortgage (IDPH Proof of Residence).
- A digital passport size photo, taken within 30 days, against a plain background, in natural color (946.200(d)(5)). Minor patients do not need a photo.
- For a reduced fee: proof such as a Social Security Benefit Verification Letter dated within the last year, your DD214, or your Medicaid Recipient Identification Number (946.210(e)).
- Your medical records from the last 12 months and a list of the medicines you take; the certifying professional reviews 12 months of records (130/36(a)(4)).
Bringing 12 months of records does not mean the physician will issue a written certification.
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