Medical Marijuana Clinic Coming To Shelbyville

A business that works to connect those who qualify for medical marijuana to the product, and proper use of it, will open its first downstate clinic in less than a month. Caprice Sweatt, the founder and CEO of Medical Cannabis Outreach says its Shelbyville location will help those whose doctors still don’t approve of using the drug.

Under Illinois’ pilot program, doctors don’t prescribe marijuana, but have to recognize a patient has a qualifying condition, to let them register through the state.

Sweatt says her group’s clinics take things a step further, and help those who don’t know how to use the product.

“So we’re offering ongoing care and customized cannabis therapy packages for the programs, so that our cannabis doctors can not only certify them, but then follow through with helping them reduce their opiates, help them with dose and guidelines, and things like that," she said.

The Shelbyville clinic opens February 4th.

It won’t be selling the drug, but more Illinois dispensaries have opened in recent months, including one in Effingham.

Sweatt says medical cannabis has a hopeful future in the state, saying a lot of the fear and stigma surrounding it has gone away in the past year and a half.

She hopes to see court rulings soon that will expand Illinois' list of qualifying conditions for use of medical cannabis. Decisions are pending for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migranes, and Chronic Pain.

But she says many doctors are still still not coming on board, citing a lack of education and outreach.

Medical Cannabis Outreach's other clinics are located in Melrose Park, Fulton, and Pekin.