On January 1, 2014, Illinois will become the 20th state in the nation to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Illinois’ governor signed the legislation, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (“Cannabis Act”), to create the four-year pilot program. The program allows patients diagnosed with one of 42 specific, debilitating medical conditions to use medicinal marijuana. Qualifying individuals will be issued a Registry Identification Card by the Department of Public Health. Illinois has removed state-level criminal penalties from the medical use and cultivation of cannabis. The purpose of the Act is to protect patients with certain debilitating medical conditions, as well as their physicians and providers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if the patients engage in the medical use of cannabis.