First Medical Marijuana Patients Get Approval

The first Illinoisans who qualify to use marijuana products have begun to get their approval letters in the mail.  

Applications have come in by the thousands since the beginning of the month, and about a dozen letters have now been sent to patients who qualify as having one of the limited number of medical conditions specified in the new state law.  These letters are for applicants whose names are in the first half of the alphabet; those whose names begin with M through Z can't apply until November 1st.  

Licenses for dispensaries and cultivation centers aren't expected to be awarded until later this year.