A medical marijuana clinic opened in Chicago this week. It is the first such dispensary in Illinois. Named Good Intentions, interested people can visit the clinic in the Bucktown neighborhood, on North Ashland Avenue.
But don’t get too excited yet, Chicago residents. Even though Illinois became the 20 th state in the US to legalize medical marijuana, it can’t be sold just yet , reports WLS-TV. According to the new laws, sales won’t be allowed until January 1 next year. However, it may take until later 2014 for sales to finally be allowed.
The new laws in Illinois require people who want to get medical marijuana to see a doctor. That doctor then must say that, in his or her opinion, the patient needs a prescription.
The new bill signed into law last week by Governor Pat Quinn allows medical marijuana to be used for nearly 40 conditions. These include AIDS/HIV and cancer. Patients with a prescription will be allowed to get up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana every 14 days.
Even though legal retail sales of marijuana are less than four months away, Brian Murray thinks it is a good time to start preparing, Chicago Tribune reports. He’s a general physician who practices at a Michigan clinic and has now opened the first medical marijuana clinic in Illinois.
Murry wants people who may have a need for medical marijuana to begin developing the patient-doctor relationship required to get a prescription. Since opening, the clinic has had a number of visitors. Many have simply asked about the new Illinois state law, wondering if they will qualify.
By the end of the first day Wednesday, the clinic had seen 75 patients file paperwork to begin the process. State representatives were also seen coming to visit with Murry at the clinic just before closing.
One state official said that they are concerned that because the “prior relationship” clause has not been defined, Murry may be misleading people seeking medical marijuana .
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