The Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office (CROO) compiled and released Illinois’ Annual Cannabis Report for Fiscal Year 2025. The 144-page report incorporates data from several state departments. This article highlights the Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) portion of the report.

The IDFPR portion of the report touts FY2025 as a “great deal of change for the cannabis industry.” IDFPR highlighted that “the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), the legislative committee that reviews rules for all agencies in the State) accepted the most comprehensive rules package for adult use cannabis dispensaries since the program’s inception.”

According to the report, IDFPR also strengthened its network throughout the state and the nation by attending meetings with regulators in other states (such as the annual Cannabis Regulators Association (“CANNRA”) meeting), being featured as guests on podcasts, and meeting with licensees at ribbon-cuttings and other industry events. The Cannabis Control Section of IDFPR also expanded the unit’s personnel, adding six licensing processors to the team to review licensure applications more quickly, resulting in an average turnaround of less than a week. Finally, IDFPR, with the State’s other cannabis agencies launched METRC, a new Seed-To-Sale system to be used by the State, its cannabis businesses, and members of the public. This new system improves traceability and transparency in the tracking process for both retailers and consumers, finalizing the launch at the end of June 2025.

Over FY2025, IDFPR issued operational licenses to 93 dispensaries, 11 more than in FY2024, allowing licenses issued under the social equity application processes to surpass the number of legacy operators. IDFPR also announced the launch of the Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment (“CORE”) in October 2024, a new online licensing system that streamlines processes for applicants and IDFPR processors alike. This growth has continued, and the cannabis professions will be included in CORE during Phase 3 in Fiscal Year 2026. The cannabis team has already begun working with the CORE team to implement this new system, bringing modernizations to the cannabis industry, and making applications more accessible. Additionally, the Metrc Seed-To-Sale Project will enter its post-launch phase with additional enhancements and improvements for licensees and consumers, increasing transparency into the cannabis supply chain.

IDFPR Goals and Essential Projects for FY2026 include:

1. Continue increasing staffing to better regulate and assist the industry.
2. Update the medical and adult-use cannabis rules to reflect industry standards and increase

efficiency.

3. Launch cannabis professions as part of Phase 3 of CORE licensing system.
4. Continue Metrc build-out post-launch to bring improvements to traceability in the industry.
5. File and pass updated medical and adult-use cannabis rules with JCAR

“Fiscal Year 2025 was a transformative year for Illinois’ cannabis industry, marked by significant advancements and collaborative efforts,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “We are committed to enhancing the regulatory framework to ensure a responsible and transparent cannabis market and anticipate even greater innovations and improvements that will further empower stakeholders and elevate the standards of our industry.”

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