Medical marijuana businesses anxious as patient numbers remain low
Published on 6/30/15
On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that only 100 more patients have been approved for medical marijuana in the state, bringing the running total to 2,600 patients. Around 22,000 patients have signed up, but requiring the submission of fingerprints has slowed down many of them leaving only 3,200 patients finishing the entire application. One industry consultant estimates a necessity of 100,000 patients to keep the state's medical marijuana industry afloat, but to do so state health officials must approve the addition of more illnesses that qualify for medical marijuana.
After a series of delays, the product is now expected to be ready by October or November.
Business owners say they are spending millions of dollars to build up to 21 cultivation centers and are getting ready to grow the first crop
