Benefits of a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois

There are several reasons to get a medical card in Illinois, even with the plant legal for recreational use.

If you have a qualifying condition but live near a recreational dispensary... is a med card still worth it?

Reasons Illinois Residents are Getting a Medical Card

While the adult-use market in IL is gaining steam, there are still over 140,000 Illinois medical cannabis patients. That’s because there are many compelling reasons to get a medical card in the state. Patients have advantages that adult-use consumers don’t get to experience. Here are just some of the Illinois medical cannabis card benefits.

• Access to tested, safe, and accurate cannabis. Legal medical dispensaries often go above and beyond to offer safe, tested products. You can feel more confident as a medical cannabis patient knowing the products are lab-tested, verified, and accurate.
• A massive tax break. Recreational consumers must pay between 19.5% and 34.7% in taxes on cannabis products, depending on which dispensary they visit and the products they purchase. Meanwhile, patients pay just 1%! That’s big tax savings that recreational consumers won’t get to see.
• Buy and have more at once. Patients can buy 2.5 times as much as recreational consumers. They also get to keep home-cultivated cannabis. Illinois residents without a med card can only buy 30 grams worth of cannabis flower. Meanwhile, patients can purchase up to 2.5 oz every 14 days.
• Grow your own cannabis. Patients can grow their own bud at home. They can always have access to their preferred strain that delivers the right effects.
• More variety in dispensary options. Medical cardholders have access to more – and more convenient – licensed dispensaries. Some dispensaries in Illinois only provide medical cannabis, excluding recreational consumers from purchasing it.
• Guarantee for product availability. Illinois dispensaries must maintain medical cannabis stock for MMJ patients to guarantee availability. That means even during shortages for adult users, medical patients still have access.
• Experience patient-only benefits. Many dispensaries will serve medical cannabis cardholders first. They may also offer patient-only discounts. Be sure to call your local dispensary to learn more.
• More legal protections as a patient. Medical cannabis patients receive legal protections that aren’t available to recreational consumers. 
• Receive proper medical guidance. Get support from a qualified practitioner who can answer your healthcare and cannabis questions. These may include questions about products, dosage, potential interactions with other medications, and more. Plus, card holders can designate a caregiver in Illinois to help purchase and administer medical cannabis if needed.

Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient Testimonials

NuggMD Illinois has made the process of acquiring a medical cannabis card as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. With professional guidance, many patients find themselves better off for the experience. We’ve helped over two million patients across the U.S. so far!

"My experience was fantastic. friendly and caring staff. very easy to talk to. I would recommend you to anybody and everybody for your services."

-William S.

"The process was fast, easy and relatively cheap. The doctor was very personable and nice. I highly recommend NuggMD!"

-Damian S.

"Very pleasant experience. I was treated with professionalism and all my questions were answered. Was approved within an hour. I HIGHLY Recommend!!"

-Ken O.

"Wonderful to be able to talk with medical professionals that listen to you and take you seriously! Good experience!"

-Michelle W.

Get Your Illinois Medical Marijuana Card the Easy Way

Getting a med card in Illinois doesn’t have to be a long or stressful process. NuggMD makes the process easy. 

• Sign up in less than 30 seconds with NuggMD Illinois.
• Meet one-on-one with an Illinois medical cannabis practitioner from the comfort of your own home through our telehealth platform.
• After you get your MMJ recommendation, go to Illinois’ medical marijuana program website to complete your application and receive your new medical cannabis card!

Have questions about how to get your IL medical card? Learn more about Illinois' cannabis laws and regulations or browse common IL patient FAQs.