The Cole Memo

Illinois has issued medical cannabis dispensary licenses to 37 existing adult-use dispensaries, expanding the number of locations where registered medical cannabis patients can shop to 92 at the time of this writing.

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced the new licenses Thursday. Beginning September 10, the newly licensed dispensaries may serve both adult-use customers and registered medical cannabis patients. 

The announcement follows a new licensing process established under SB 3222 that allows adult-use dispensaries with active licenses in good standing to apply for medical cannabis dispensary licenses. Once approved, those dispensaries can sell cannabis to registered patients at the medical cannabis tax rate, subject to the patient’s authorized allotment. 

“This is a monumental day for medical patients, who have long advocated for these changes,” Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer Erin A. Johnson said. “We are also proud to expand opportunities for the many small cannabis businesses who have wanted to serve medical patients for years.” 

IDFPR described the change as the largest expansion of Illinois’ medical cannabis market since 2016. The agency said additional medical cannabis dispensary licenses are expected to be issued on a continuing basis. 

The full IDFPR press release is included below.

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Reactions to the Illinois Home Grow Raid Story, Plus Cannabis Arrests in Indiana | E316 – The Cole Memo

In this episode, Cole follows up on the recent story of Josh Anderson, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was raided by police, and discusses some of the reactions and conversations that have followed its release. We also take a look at cannabis arrest numbers in Indiana and other cannabis and drug policy stories making news. Watch the video version or read the full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/09/08/e316/

1. Reactions to the Illinois Home Grow Raid Story, Plus Cannabis Arrests in Indiana | E316 55:58
2. Illinois Police Raided His Legal Home Grow: The Story in ~3 Minutes | E315 03:32
3. A First Look at the Police Raid of an Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient | E314 25:43
4. The Era of Descheduled Cannabis Continues for Another Month in America | E312 21:11
5. Illinois Outdoor Cannabis Rules Put Home Grow Back in the Spotlight | E311 47:27