The Cole Memo

Two new bills filed in the Illinois House aim to expand cannabis access, including allowing home delivery and easing restrictions on medical cannabis purchases.

House Bill 2557 (HB2557), introduced by Rep. Sonya M. Harper on February 4, 2025, would create the Cannabis Delivery License Act, establishing a licensing system for businesses to deliver cannabis products purchased from licensed dispensaries directly to consumers in Illinois. The language of the bill outlines application requirements, operational rules, and penalties for noncompliance. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would be responsible for regulating the new delivery system.

House Bill 2926 (HB2926), introduced by Rep. Bob Morgan on February 5, 2025, proposes changes to both the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act and the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. According to the bill synopsis, the bill would remove distinctions between medical and non-medical cannabis purchases at dispensaries and allow dispensaries to offer drive-through and delivery services for registered medical patients, caregivers, and adult-use consumers. It also introduces new security and record-keeping requirements for deliveries.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has previously been asked about the possibility of cannabis delivery in Illinois and has expressed openness to the idea. In past comments, he suggested that as long as delivery is properly regulated and ensures products reach only those legally allowed to purchase them, it would be comparable to in-store sales. While he has not taken a definitive stance, his remarks indicate a general willingness to consider the policy.

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Illinois Outdoor Cannabis Rules Put Home Grow Back in the Spotlight | E311 – The Cole Memo

Illinois regulators are considering new rules for outdoor cannabis cultivation, and the renewed attention is putting Illinois' restrictive home grow laws back into the conversation. Cole discusses new coverage from the Chicago Tribune and Shaw Local, why home cultivation remains an important part of the legalization debate, and two newly approved qualifying conditions for Illinois' medical cannabis program. Plus, an open letter calls for stronger federal protections for medical cannabis patients, a man is caught with 32 pounds of cannabis at O'Hare, and the DEA releases the full transcripts from the marijuana rescheduling hearings. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/26/e311/

1. Illinois Outdoor Cannabis Rules Put Home Grow Back in the Spotlight | E311 47:27
2. Illinois Cannabis Law Changed: Here’s What You Need to Know | E310 03:55
3. Illinois to Open Medical to All Dispensaries + Allow Outdoor Grows for All | E309 33:02
4. Cannabis Access, Hemp Politics, and the Rise of Flock Cameras | E308 50:45
5. The Hemp Debate: Cannabis, Decriminalization, and Where We Go From Here | E307 02:17:39