Illinois Sees Sharp Rise in Medical Cannabis Applications as Cancer Patient Requests 'Explode'

Between 2014 and September 2017, Illinois had approved 24,000 patients. A year later, the total is 44,000.


During her treatment for breast cancer, Mary Paris couldn’t sleep. Her pain was “horrible,” she said. Until, she said, a doctor explained how medical marijuana might help her.

 

The 60-year-old Mundelein resident, who said her cancer has metastasized to her bones, said that using medical marijuana helps her not only sleep, but also feel improved mobility with less pain.

 

Like Paris, many cancer patients in Illinois are seeking medical marijuana throughout and after their treatment.

 

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, between 2014 — when it began approving applications for medical marijuana — and September 2017, it had OK’d 24,000 patients. A year later, the total is 44,000.

 

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Top photo courtesy of Adobe Stock