Robert Mccoppin
In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, lead grower Dave Wilson care for marijuana plants in the "Flower Room" at the Ataraxia medical marijuana center in Albion, IL.
Seth Perlman/Associated Press

Adding Patients To Pilot Program Now Relies Largely On Courts

In July, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a measure extending the state’s medical marijuana pilot program from January 2018 to July 2020. But as a condition, Illinois' Public Health Director now has sole discretion over adding more qualifying conditions, leaving no power to a re-constituted panel of experts. Chicago Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin recently wrote on current efforts to add them, relying largely on court rulings tied to a series of lawsuits.

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