Illinois Starts Accepting Medical Marijuana Applications

Thousands of patients in Illinois will be able to apply for special ID cards allowing them to use medical marijuana under a new state law.

Authorities begin accepting applications for medical marijuana Tuesday from patients whose last names start with letters A through L.

Each patient can designate a caregiver to obtain medical marijuana for them. Those caregivers also must apply for ID cards.

Lawmakers adopted the medical marijuana law in 2013. Under its provisions, patients must have a written certification from a doctor and get a fingerprint-based background check. Only patients with certain medical conditions will be approved for the program.

Patients whose last names begin with M through Z will have to wait until Nov. 1 to submit applications.