Contributor: STEPHEN J. MORGAN
This past January 1st, the residents of Illinois were finally allowed to enjoy marijuana on a recreational level. Before, one would have to have a medical card in order to even think about partaking in cannabis of any sort. But, after a long wait, the “powers that be” in this midwestern state decided to do away with their archaic thinking, and allow their residents (and tourists) to enjoy marijuana within their borders.
Since that fateful day, as you could imagine, business has been booming! But, almost to a detrimental degree.
Picture this: You’re a cannabis enthusiast currently living in (or visiting) Illinois. On New Year’s day, you wake up early, knowing you need to beat the crowds to the closest dispensary. However, even though you thought you’ve outsmarted your fellow smokers, the second you arrive at your neighborhood cannabis club, there’s already a line around the block.
In fact, some establishments in Illinois have been so packed, they’ve had to enlist the help of nearby restaurants and cafes to help house their waiting patrons. Cannabis crowd control is really becoming a situation out here, that’s for sure.
Anyway, back to our previously established scenario.
Med Cards On The Rise In Illinois, Despite Recreational Legalization
You take your place in that enormous line and, while a bit disheartened by the inevitable wait, you decide to make the most of it, and pass the time daydreaming about how wonderful it’s going to be once you finally get your hands on some newly-legalized bud.
Slowly but surely, those minutes turn into hours, and the line barely moves. Every now and then, you realize a select few customers are bypassing the line altogether. Your frustration mounts to unforeseen new heights, and you’re not sure how much more of this unbearable wait you can take.
Then, like a beacon from heaven appears in the form of one of their staff members. You can’t help but beam with excitement as they approach you.
This is it, you can finally head inside and grab some government-approved cannabis. Yes!
Except, when they reach you, they regretfully inform you that they’ve unfortunately sold out.
Sold out?! What?
You didn’t even consider that could happen. What the hell?!
Then, there you are. Depressed, weed-less, and out an entire day because of the lengthy wait time for absolutely nothing. What a bummer.
As you reel in anger, and head back to your car, you spot a couple of those same folks who breezed passed the line before, bags full of THC-infused goodies in their hands, and smiles on their faces. Out of confusion, and sheer curiosity, you approach them, and ask how they were able to gain such immediate access to the dispensary.
In one motion, they turn to you, and utter, “Medical Card, bro.”
And that one phrase is all you need to realize that recreational marijuana may not be as “amazing” as you thought it would be. Especially, if it means long lines and sold out storefronts.
SEE ALSO: Illinois’ Booming Cannabis Industry Encounters Unforeseen Problems
Well, that’s exactly what’s going through the minds of more and more Illinois residents these days, as they are finding trips to the recreational cannabis club to be arduous gambles that often result in a failed, fruitless trips. But, per the laws and regulations currently put in place, those who have a medical card, can bypass those long lines, as dispensaries are legally obligated to make sure they have enough product for them to purchase.
Oh, and did I mention that they don’t have to pay anywhere near as much tax on their products?
Yeah. It’s true. Those medical cards are starting to sound pretty dang appealing, aren’t they?
Apparently, you’re not the only one to think so, because since the passing of recreational marijuana in Illinois, the state has seen a dramatic increase in the number of medical card applications. To be specific, since the start of 2020, they’ve seen a 34% increase.
Marijuana-related doctors in the area aren’t surprised by such a turnout, as they’ve seen their waiting rooms and appointment bookings go up since the historic legislation went into effect. But they never anticipated it would be this large of a number. One such physician, Dr. Rahul Khare, said, “We predicted that there would be a bump in patient load for cannabis certification, but not the extent we are seeing.”
There could be a lot of contributing factors to this being the most recent development in Illinois. People could be looking for a way to skip long lines and pay less at checkout. But others are claiming that the recreational ruling made them feel more comfortable to finally go ahead with their desire to get a doctor’s two cents on the matter.
These people usually find themselves in the higher age range demographic, but coincidentally, “Boomers” of this nature are dominating the marijauna marketplace as of late. Which makes this theory incredibly believable.
One such person, Dana Balkin of Humboldt Park, spoke about her personal relationship with cannabis, and her motivations to get a medical card. Specifically, Balkin said, “There was never anything that worked for the nausea. Once they made it recreational, it just got so much more approachable to me. They had a table set up telling people about the benefits of getting your medical card, about how you don’t have to wait in line.”
Adding, “The biggest thing is not waiting in lines.” Which, I have to say, I completely understand. Nobody likes waiting in lines – anywhere. Especially if that wait can result in a lack of products to choose from. That sort of common occurrence would make the decision to become a medical card holder a true “no-brainer.”
Also, touching back on the financial benefits of such a decision, it seems like it only makes sense to see a physician and get a medical card. The managing director of industry intelligence at BDS Analytics, Tom Adams, feels the same way. When he was asked to comment on this issue surrounding a spike in medical card applications, he echoed those very sentiments in his own words.
Adams remarked, “If you’re being spared 20 or 30% cost on an edible and concentrate by being a medical patient, then you’ve got a real strong motivation to get a card.” Honestly, I couldn’t agree more.
Now, the process in which one can procure a medical card isn’t exactly the quickest, especially when compared to states like California, who routinely award patients such a recommendation on the very same day they apply. But that’s not the case in Illinois, however.
Here, you need to establish an actual patient-doctor relationship with your physician. You have to have a minor history with them, requiring more than one visit. Where as, in California, you can get approved by a stranger, over a Skype call, in a matter of minutes.
Also, when it comes to the topic of price, the differences are just as vast. In California, you can get approved for a medical card for as low as $20-30 bucks. But in Illinois, not only will it cost you multiple visits to the doctor, but it’ll cost you anywhere between $100-250 dollars. Which, as you can plainly see, is quite substantial.
It’s easy to see why so many people are flocking to get their medical cards in Illinois. It’ll help save them money (in the long run), and avoid those pesky lines. Also, they are guaranteed to find at least some items to choose from at their local dispensaries on each visit, as it is required by law for these establishments to ensure service to these medically-approved patients.
