6,300 Illinoisans apply to use medical marijuana

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois doctors have signed off on Illinois medical marijuana for patients with cancer, severe fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries.

Those are the most frequent health problems showing up in the forms submitted by doctors to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The department announced Wednesday that about 6,300 Illinois patients have started the process of applying to use the state's first legal offering of medical marijuana.

But most have sent in applications that are missing crucial documents. Only about 800 have submitted complete applications. To be complete, an application requires a doctor certification form and background check information.

Health department officials say people who submit unfinished applications are notified and given 21 days to turn in the needed documents.