Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a sweeping cannabis and hemp omnibus bill into law, enacting one of the most significant updates to Illinois cannabis regulations since adult-use legalization took effect in 2020.
The legislation passed the Illinois House 77-31 and the Senate 47-10 during the final days of the spring legislative session. Legislative records show the measure (Senate Bill 3222) was sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 10.
The legislation makes a wide range of changes affecting cannabis consumers, medical patients, licensed businesses, and hemp products sold throughout the state.
Key Changes
The law includes a wide range of changes affecting cannabis consumers, medical patients, licensed businesses, and hemp products sold throughout the state.
- Creates the Illinois Hemp Act and establishes a regulatory framework for hemp products
- Allows adult-use dispensaries to obtain medical cannabis licenses at no cost
- Allows registered medical cannabis patients to purchase from participating adult-use dispensaries at the medical tax rate
- Increases cannabis possession limits for Illinois residents and non-residents
- Raises the threshold for certain minor possession offenses from 30 grams to 60 grams, expanding eligibility for automatic expungement
- Allows dispensary drive-through and curbside pickup
- Permits dispensaries to remain open until 2 a.m.
- Authorizes telehealth appointments for medical cannabis certifications
- Increases allowable flowering canopy space for craft growers
- Creates licensed cannabis transfer facilities
- Provides fee waivers and reductions for qualifying smaller cannabis businesses
- Updates ownership and investment disclosure requirements
- This provision received renewed attention Friday morning following a Chicago Sun-Times report examining convicted cocaine money launderer David Berger’s ties to Illinois cannabis businesses. The report was published hours before Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of the legislation.
- According to the report, IDFPR views the new language as an enforcement tool to address undisclosed ownership interests and companies that may attempt to avoid ownership registration requirements by characterizing themselves as service providers rather than owners. The governor’s office said the law also provides clarity that certain revenue-sharing and consulting agreements may constitute ownership or control interests and therefore require disclosure
- This provision received renewed attention Friday morning following a Chicago Sun-Times report examining convicted cocaine money launderer David Berger’s ties to Illinois cannabis businesses. The report was published hours before Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of the legislation.
- Reduces certain video surveillance retention and storage requirements
- Removes some third-party security contract mandates
- Extends Illinois’ community college cannabis training program through 2031 and removes the word “Pilot” from the program’s title
- Creates enforcement mechanisms targeting anti-competitive practices within the cannabis industry
- Establishes a social equity experience lottery for infuser licenses
- Allows adult-use dispensaries to apply for relocation
- Expands transporting organization operating hours
- Makes various technical and administrative changes to Illinois cannabis law
Press Releases
The following press release was issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office following the signing of Senate Bill 3222.
The following press release was issued by Representative Bob Morgan following the signing of Senate Bill 3222.
Watch: Governor Pritzker’s Remarks
This article will be updated with statements from Governor Pritzker, lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and advocacy organizations as they become available.
The Cole Memo 
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