Chronic pain, PTSD top the list of reasons people buy medical marijuana in Illinois. Number of medicinal cardholders grows by 30%.

Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois and problems with a new patient tracking system, the number of patients signed up for medical cannabis grew by 30% in the past year, while their cited reasons for doing so continue to evolve.

Chronic pain, accounting for 31% of patients, and post-traumatic stress disorder, at 16%, are the most common reasons cited for medical cannabis, followed by migraines and osteoarthritis at 10% each and cancer at 5%.

Patients often say the primary reason for getting a medical card, which can cost around $200 with a doctor’s certification, is to avoid high taxes on recreational cannabis, which run near 30% or more.