Growing Marijuana In Illinois

Please note: ILGM is NOT a legal adviser. Information contained in this website is intended as general introductory information only. The information contained on this website is not legal advice. It should not be construed as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.

Illinois has a medical marijuana program, but unfortunately it does not include growing marijuana. Therefore, medical and casual marijuana users that are interested in growing weed in Illinois must do so without getting caught. There is a penalty of up to a year in jail for growing just a single plant, so being discreet is definitely worth the effort.

Tip: make sure to download my free Grow Bible for more information

Medical marijuana

Illinois has a medical marijuana that includes more conditions than other states.  These conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Arnold Chiari malformation
• Cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Cancer
• Causalgia
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Complex regional pain syndrome type 2
• Crohn’s disease
• Dystonia
• Fibromyalgia
• Fibrous dysplasia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Hydrocephalus
• Hydromyelia
• Interstitial cystitis
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Myoclonus
• Nail patella syndrome
• Neurofibromatosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• PTSD
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (rsd)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Spinal cord disease
• Spinocerebellar ataxia (sca)
• Syringomyelia
• Tarlov cysts
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome

They even let patients substitute marijuana for opioids, if they have been prescribed opioids or could have been prescribed them.

Despite the long list of approved conditions, Illinois does not want its patients medicating on their own. Instead, the state will manage their marijuana through state-licensed dispensaries. In other words, Illinois will decide who can grow it, and will also take its portion of the sales. Medical marijuana was approved in 2013, but as of the end of 2017 the dispensaries are not yet operational.

Growing in Illinois

Growing marijuana in Illinois should be a combination of staying small and staying discreet. Do not attempt to grow more than five plants at one time. First of all, you don’t need to. Secondly, growing more than five plants is guaranteed prison time if caught.  If you plan to grow in this state, stay small.

If you only grow a single plant, you may face less trouble if caught, but truthfully, not getting caught is the best way to grow. You can read some tips on how to now to get caught in the free ebook, The Marijuana Grow Bible. It covers various methods for safely growing weed in Illinois, as well as tips on getting the best yield from your plants. No matter where you reside, the grow bible should be your first step to growing weed.

Possessing marijuana

While Illinois is planning to have a fully functional medical marijuana program, it has also decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. If you are caught with 10 grams or less, it is a simple civil violation and a $200 fine. It used to be that, if you were arrested with 2.5 grams or less, it would be considered a misdemeanor and you could face up to 30 days in jail.

Interesting fact; marijuana is not legal in Jamaica! Learn how rastafarians get to appreciate ganja in our free ebook.

Luckily Illinois seems to be progressing into modern times. Despite all this, Illinois does have a conditional release program which may approve probation rather than jail time.

TIP: Looking to buy seeds? Visit the ILGM marijuana seed shop

While there is, more or less, still a marijuana prohibition in Illinois, growing weed there does not have to be impossible. With the right kind of seeds and knowledge, anyone can discreetly grow their own marijuana at home, in their backyard, or guerilla.

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Marijuana legislation can be complicated, but Jenny Bloom is always up for the task. Although not a lawyer, her experience as a reporter and PR specialist helps her understand legalese – especially when it relates to growing marijuana. A passionate supporter of legalization and home... [read more]

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