Illinois medical marijuana program to continue with 39 qualifying illnesses

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has rejected efforts to expand by 11 the list of conditions for which marijuana can be prescribed in Illinois.

The move came in two parts, both announced Sept. 10.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said it would not add the conditions recommended by an advisory panel established under Gov. Pat Quinn.

The department made the announcement by saying only that its director, Dr. Nirav Shah, had made the decision and the pilot program would continue with the 39 conditions and diseases already authorized.

The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board had recommended these conditions be added: anorexia nervosa; chronic postoperative pain; Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; irritable bowel syndrome; migraine headaches; neuro-Behcet’s autoimmune disease; peripheral and diabetic neuropathy; osteoarthritis; polycystic kidney disease; post-traumatic stress disorder; and superior canal dehiscence syndrome.

Rauner also vetoed Senate Bill 33, which...