The Cole Memo

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently published a new application packet that would allow licensed adult-use dispensing organizations, upon approval by the state, to serve medical cannabis patients at the medical cannabis tax rate.

It is unclear to me exactly when IDFPR first posted the application, as I did not see an announcement from the state or any media coverage of this development before I shared the application via social media on August 12th.

Beginning September 10, 2026, licensed adult-use dispensing organizations will be able to apply for the new license. Applicants must submit a nonrefundable $5,000 application fee. Upon issuance of a license, the standard renewal fee for the license will increase by $10,000 per renewal cycle. The application asks applicants to provide an updated dispensary floor plan identifying a consultation area for medical patients.

The new licensing process was established through recently enacted cannabis omnibus legislation in Illinois.

The application also requires documentation of proper zoning and a patient prioritization plan that includes a designated medical cannabis line and registers that will serve medical patients first. An updated security plan must also be provided, “if necessary”.

You can find the form by clicking here or by going directly to this link: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/auc/f2636.pdf

Coverage in Media

• Illinois News Joint
• MarijuanaMoment
• MJBizDaily

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Collin Corbett Reflects on Illinois Governor's Race and Election Results | E336 – The Cole Memo

Former independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett returns to The Cole Memo for a post-election conversation about his campaign, the results of the 2026 election, and the challenges facing candidates outside the two-party system. Cole and Collin discuss his campaign's performance, his exclusion from the gubernatorial media coverage, the growing influence of national politics on state elections, and the importance of longer, more substantive political discussions. They also reflect on the broader election results, Governor JB Pritzker's political future, and what might come next for independent political movements. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/11/11/e336/

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