HB4515 addresses Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program
Since legalization in January 2020, the Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program has become the largely forgotten license. The Program, managed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), was created to help prepare students for careers in the Illinois cannabis industry. The Program is scheduled to be repealed by law on July 1, 2026. Rep. La Shawn K. Ford recently introduced House Bill 4515 (HB4515), address the sunset date and other licensee concerns.
Continue reading →Review: Jelly Donutz by Revolution
For my last few grow journals, I have grown (and am growing) Humboldt Seed strains, so when I noticed Revolution was dropping Humboldt strains, I picked one I have long wanted to grow myself, Jelly Donutz.
Continue reading →Industrial Hemp Farmer Informational Event set for Wednesday
An Industrial Hemp Farmer Informational Event is scheduled for 6–9 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Gower Translational Research Center in Carbondale. The in-person event is free to the public. To register, visit here.
Continue reading →Review: Casey Jones Mini Preroll Pack by Swift Lifts
Prerolls have become such a market force that many cultivators have created standalone preroll labels. Verano has joined this trend, spinning out its Swift Lifts prerolls into a full-fledged brand. I recently stopped at Ash and Ivy in Benton and picked up a Swift Lifts Casey Jones Mini Preroll 10-Pack to review.
Continue reading →CRI releases feedback report for equity-centric research and more
The Community Health and Cannabis Collaborative (CHeCC) (formerly known as the Community Health Sciences (CHS) team) at the Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) hosted the Community Report Back and Discussion on Nov. 19, 2025. Earlier this year, CRI released a report with the data collected from those discussions.
Continue reading →Cannabis Research Institute kicks off seed funding program
The Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) recently announced that round one applications for its seed funding program focused on equity-centric research and community action projects opened on Feb.1. CRI is seeking applications for research projects that advance equity related to cannabis in Illinois, including community action projects, graduate student-led equity-centric research projects, and equity-centric research.
Continue reading →Review: Sour Lemonz Blunt by Outfitters
Blunts have been my go-to for walking the dogs after midnight. Outfitters, a brand by The 1937 Group, launched a line of blunts, so I picked up the Sour Lemonz 2g blunt to review.
Continue reading →Mayor Johnson vetoes Chicago hemp ban
On Jan. 21, Chicago’s City Council voted 32–16 to prohibit the sale of most hemp-derived products. Friday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed the ordinance, which would have exempted hemp-infused beverages, pet products, topicals, and other CBD products from the ban.
Continue reading →IDOA releases bulletin for cannabis labeling, stability testing, and retention samples
The Illinois Department of Agriculture – Division of Cannabis Regulation (IDOA–DCR) posted an information bulletin today to help clarify product labeling requirements and best practices for dispensaries, cultivation centers, craft growers, and infusers.
Continue reading →Review: Go Betty Go Watermelon Chews by Betty’s Eddies
THCv has been having a moment, appearing in numerous daytime and sativa-leaning edibles over the past year. MariMed imprint label Betty’s Eddies isn’t missing out on the trend, releasing a ratioed daytime watermelon chew with the “diet weed” minor cannabinoid. I recently stopped at Thrive Anna and picked up a bag of Go Betty Go Watermelon Chews to review.
Continue reading →Illinois Sen. Lightford introduces two cannabis-related bills
If Illinois does not pass a cannabis-related bill this legislative session, it will not be because a lack of options. Illinois legislators have introduced several omnibus-style bills this session. Most recently, Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford introduced two bills that address cannabis-related amendments across several Acts, including those affecting medical patients. Senate Bill 4048 (SB4048) and Senate Bill 4015 (SB4015) were referred to the Assignments Committee last week.
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