Earlier today, the Illinois House Executive Committee approved Senate Bill 2090, a former public funds bill that has been amended as a “shell bill” for a new cannabis omnibus. SB0090 contains cannabis amendments that have previously failed to pass in multiple past legislative sessions, including expanded access for medical patients, added support for social equity license holders’ relocations of an adult use dispensing organization, more flexibility for transporters, drive through pickup, security camera storage, and other items.

One amendment that has garnered a lot of support allows for medical patients to purchase product at all Illinois dispensaries at the medical tax rate, stating, “Beginning July 1, 2026, all dispensing organization agents registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act shall be deemed to be a dispensing organization agent as that term is defined in this Act. All dispensing organization agents registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act shall have the same rights, privileges, duties, and responsibilities of dispensing organization agents licensed under this Act. All dispensing organization agents shall be subject to this Act and any administrative rules adopted under this Act.”

Another popular amendment allows for drive-through pickup for medical patients. Stating, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dispensing organization may offer pickup or drive-through locations for cannabis or cannabis-infused products to purchasers over 21 years of age, qualifying patients, provisional patients, and designated caregivers in accordance with Section 15-100 of this Act.

Other amendments prioritizes medical patients, include privacy security medical histories of patients, requiring dispensaries to maintain “an adequate supply of cannabis and cannabis-infused products for purchase by qualifying patients, designated caregivers, provisional patients, and Opioid Alternative Patient Program participants” and if there are shortages of cannabis or cannabis-infused products, “a dispensing organization shall prioritize serving qualifying patients, designated caregivers, provisional patients, and Opioid Alternative Patient Program participants before serving purchasers.” The new bill also adds that dispensaries now shall “have a certifying health care professional on-site at the dispensary, make referrals to a certifying health care professional, include links to a certifying health care professional on the dispensary’s website, or otherwise direct patients to a certifying health care professional.”

Another amendment adds a fee for dispensaries, stating, “By October 1, 2026, all dispensing organizations shall pay a one-time fee of $10,000 to be deposited into the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Fund. After this one-time fee, all dispensing organizations shall renew pursuant to the provisions of Section 15-45. The Department may approve payment plans that extend beyond October 1, 2026 for the fee paid under this subsection if the first payment under the payment plan is remitted by October 1, 2026.

Other itemized amendments include a raise in renewal fees for cultivation centers, stating, “On or after July 1, 2026 the Cultivation Center license renewal fee shall be $200,000 to be deposited into the Cannabis Regulation Fund. For the 2027 renewal cycle the Department may set up a process to refund or prorate renewal fees. Craft and infusers Effective July 1, 2026 all craft grower licenses are valid for 2 years upon the next renewal period.”

New security-camera amendments were added for craft growers and infusers, stating, “Upon approval of the Department through an application for alteration, craft growers shall retain 90 days of camera storage in any location. The Department may require footage be maintained for purposes of an investigation.”

The bill also adds fines for testing facilities, stating, “Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture may fine $15,000 for each violation of this Act or rules adopted under this Act by a cannabis testing facility.” And lastly, the bill eliminates burdensome need dispensing organization requirement to “include the legal name of the dispensary on the packaging of any cannabis product it sells.”

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