The Cole Memo

Illinois officials have provided additional clarification on the rules for cannabis seed purchases in Illinois. Illinois law allows licensed dispensaries to sell cannabis seeds to registered medical cannabis patients for home cultivation.

In my last article on cannabis seed sales, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) confirmed that the state’s new seed-to-sale system can handle cannabis seed sales, unlike the previous system.

With that question answered, I had additional questions: How many cannabis seeds can a registered medical cannabis patient purchase or possess, and would those seeds count toward a patient’s medical cannabis allotment?

Those questions were forwarded to the agencies’ subject matter experts. In a response provided to The Cole Memo on August 27, an IDFPR spokesperson said:

“Illinois law currently does not impose any limit on the number of cannabis seeds a registered medical patient may purchase or possess, and seed quantity has no bearing on a patient’s adequate medical supply under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. However, Section 10-5 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act establishes a clear cultivation restriction: medical patients may grow no more than five cannabis plants that exceed five inches in height.”

In short, state officials say there is currently no limit on the number of cannabis seeds a registered medical cannabis patient may purchase or possess, and seed purchases do not count toward the patient’s medical cannabis allotment.

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Illinois Cannabis Sales Rebound, DEA Rescheduling Update & Governor's Forum | E326 – The Cole Memo

Illinois cannabis sales are showing signs of renewed growth, but questions remain about pricing, competition, and the impact of upcoming hemp restrictions. In this episode, Cole examines newly released Illinois cannabis data, revisits the state's cannabis arrest statistics, and discusses the latest developments in federal cannabis rescheduling as opponents seek additional testimony and documents. Later, Cole hosts a live watch party for the Illinois gubernatorial forum featuring Governor JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey. The conversation also touches on cannabis testing, product remediation, and consumer transparency. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/10/13/e326/

1. Illinois Cannabis Sales Rebound, DEA Rescheduling Update & Governor's Forum | E326 02:04:35
2. Massive Outdoor Home Grow, Patient Portal, & Cannabis Event This Week | E325 54:40
3. The Future of Illinois Cannabis: A Roundtable With Aaron Del Mar | E324 01:03:20
4. Should Cannabis Tax Dollars Pay for License Plate Readers? | E323 01:01:59
5. Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E322 01:17:31