Illinois public hearings on medical marijuana rules

Illinois health officials are planning two public hearings on proposed rules affecting patients who want to use medical marijuana.

The state's medical marijuana program is a four-year pilot project. The rules under consideration affect how adult patients with specific health conditions will be able to buy marijuana.

Hearings will be held in Chicago and Springfield. The Chicago hearing will be at the Thompson Center starting at 9:30 a.m. May 5. The Springfield hearing will be on the University of Illinois Springfield campus at 9 a.m. May 21.

The proposed rules were published in the Illinois Register on April 18. That marked the start of a formal rulemaking process and a public comment period. The Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules begins its review in early June.