Category: Hemp
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Illinois Law Allows Medical Cannabis Patients to Purchase Cannabis Seeds. One Question About Their Availability Remains Unanswered.
I discussed this article on my podcast. You can view the episode here. Illinois law has allowed qualifying medical cannabis patients to cultivate up to five cannabis plants since the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) took effect in 2020. The CRTA also authorizes registered qualifying patients to purchase cannabis seeds from licensed dispensaries for…
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State Reports Show Cannabis Arrests Continue Six Years After Legalization in Illinois
Cannabis Control Act arrests increased in Illinois in 2024, marking the first year-over-year increase since cannabis possession was decriminalized in 2016, according to newly released state data. A separate analysis released by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) found Illinois had the highest cannabis arrest rate per capita among states that have legalized adult-use cannabis. Together,…
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Illinois Cannabis and Hemp Omnibus Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
Update 6/12/2026: This legislation has been signed into law. Read more here. A sweeping cannabis and hemp omnibus bill is now headed to Governor J.B. Pritzker after receiving final approval from the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation passed the Illinois House by a vote of 77-31 and later cleared the Senate 47-10. The lengthy measure…
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Outdoor Cannabis Is Quietly Being Allowed in Illinois
As first reported by The Cole Memo, two Illinois cannabis cultivators, Nature’s Grace and Wellness (NGW) and Green Thumb Industries (GTI), found themselves in years-long litigation with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) after the state attempted to walk back permits for their outdoor screenhouses. Both companies said the facilities were necessary to meet rising…
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From Testing Labs to Patient Portals: Key Takeaways from Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Advisory Board Meeting
Yesterday I attended a meeting with the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, a body that makes recommendations to the Illinois Department of Public Health on additions to the list of qualifying conditions for the medical cannabis program. At this meeting, representatives from several cannabis-related state agencies gave presentations about their roles, work, and what patients &…
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Illinois Governor Pritzker Renews Push for Hemp Regulation, Cites Child Safety Concerns
Earlier this week, the ATF, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, conducted raids across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, and North Carolina. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the FDA’s ban on the sale of unauthorized flavored vapes, citing concerns they could encourage youth tobacco use. By August, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed…
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Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation in Illinois: Tribune Highlights Story First Reported by The Cole Memo
The Chicago Tribune recently covered the ongoing debate over outdoor cannabis cultivation in Illinois, a story first reported here at The Cole Memo. Their coverage highlights lawsuits and regulatory battles involving companies like Curaleaf, GTI, and Nature’s Grace, who are seeking permission to grow outdoors using hoop houses and screen houses. While state agriculture regulators…
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Another Outdoor-Cannabis Lawsuit Hits Illinois
Article Updated 07/25/25 at 4:43PM: This article now includes a statement shared by a representative for Curaleaf Chairman & CEO Boris Jordan. For nearly two years, I’ve been sharing details about a little-discussed aspect of Illinois cannabis policy: the state’s brief allowance and attempted reversal of outdoor cannabis cultivation for a small number of licensees.…
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Illinois May Cut 280E Tax Relief, According to Industry Group
Updated on 5/23/25 to include new posts/pictures from an Illinois cannabis industry group on this topic. In 2023, Illinois joined a growing number of states that decoupled from Section 280E of the federal tax code, allowing licensed cannabis businesses to deduct ordinary business expenses on their state taxes. The change was enacted as part of…
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Criminal Law Committee in the Illinois Senate Votes to Advance Bill to Ban Vehicle Searches Based on Smell of Cannabis
On Tuesday, February 19th, an Illinois Senate committee voted 7-3 to advance Senate Bill 42, which would eliminate the requirement that cannabis be transported in vehicles in an odor-proof container. Update: As of February 27, 2025, this legislation is set for its third reading in the Senate on March 4, 2025. After the third reading,…
The Cole Memo 