Conny Mueller Moody, assistant deputy director of the Office of Health Promotion with the Illinois Department of Public Health, visited SIUE’s Vadalabene Center Wednesday. She spoke to a group of mostly students about the state’s new Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.
Moody, along with Kristyn Budd, SIUE Health Education intern, informed the audience about the new law, its regulations and conditions of use.
As of January 1, Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act officially took effect. Of the 20 states with medical marijuana laws, Illinois is considered one of the most stringent.
The pilot program is a four-year plan and provides access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients, according to Moody.
“The program does not allow for recreational use of marijuana or for patients/caregivers to grow their own supply of medical cannabis,” Moody said. “And it does not allow persons under the age of 18 to apply as a qualifying patient.”
Some general requirements that Moody informed the audience included:
• Registered qualifying patients are limited to buying 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis every 14 days
• Smoking of medical cannabis is prohibited where smoking is banned under the Smoke-free Illinois Act
• Agriculture will regulate up to 22 cultivation centers
For more information, visit mcpp.illinois.gov and idph.state.il.us.
Photo: Conny Mueller Moody, assistant deputy director of the Office of Health Promotion