In less than a few years, Illinois officials have transitioned from touting cannabis drug busts and seizures as an end-of-the-year accomplishment to touting the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. At the end of October, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) released its inaugural “Annual Report” that highlighted the strides IDFPR has made with the implementations of Illinois’ medical and adult-use cannabis programs. At the end 2022, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced its accomplishments, which also highlighted the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

Governor JB Pritzker and IDOA announced its shared accomplishments by highlighting “the opening of the state’s first craft grow facility.” Under the heading “Supporting Vulnerable Communities and Working Toward Justice,” the following bullet points were listed in the announcement:

• Issued 88 Craft Grow licenses, 54 Infuser licenses, and 189 Transporter licenses to date. 85% of all new licenses under the CRTA are equity by ownership.
• First Social Equity Craft Grow licensee successfully commenced business operations. Located in Rockford, Star Buds is 66% Black-owned.
• Two licensees were issued operational Infuser permits and successfully commenced business operations. Located in Pekin, Illinois, Krown is 51% woman-owned; MME, Inc., in Homewood, Illinois was also cleared to begin infusing operations. Both businesses are Social Equity licensees.
• Implemented state hemp program in time for the 2019 crop season. Illinois is currently entering our fourth growing season with 2,734 acres planted in 2020.
• Approved 10 community colleges to participate in the Cannabis Community College Vocational Pilot Program.
• Signed landmark legislation creating a Farmer Disparity Study to identify and examine the hurdles for minority populations entering the agriculture industry. The study is now underway, facilitated by the Department and research led by the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University and Western Illinois University.
• Bureau of Cannabis Materials and Livestock Management Facility Training translated to Spanish. The state’s pesticide exam is currently being translated.
• Entered into a $14.4 million Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement with the USDA to increase markets for disadvantaged farmers and to create sustainable infrastructure to connect with disadvantaged communities.

Under the heading, “Accelerating Economic Growth and Creating Jobs,” the announcement also listed that the “Cannabis production industry now employs nearly 5,000 people in Illinois.”

In October, IDFPR touted early in its report that in August 2013, Illinois became the 20th state to legalize medical cannabis when the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act was signed into law. At that time, IDFPR became responsible for licensing and regulating the dispensaries that sell medical cannabis to patients, along with each dispensary’s Principal Officers, Agents-in-Charge, and Agents.

“Illinois has always been—and will always be—an agricultural state. And this year, we continued to lay the groundwork for a thriving, sustainable agricultural industry for generations into the future,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From waiving all FFA dues for agricultural education students to issuing hundreds of cannabis licenses to social equity applicants, 2022 was full of firsts—and we’re only getting started.”

Below are quotes from politicians affiliated with the programs and implementations:

“In Illinois, our agricultural industry powers the economy and feeds the world. Thank you to the Department of Agriculture that provides resources and support to the skilled farmers, producers, transporters, and workers who make this possible,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “The amazing accomplishments and growth we saw this year will provide momentum for increased productivity and entrepreneurship in 2023 and beyond.”

“This year has brought much success to the current landscape of agriculture in Illinois, but also the future of agriculture in Illinois,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. “With the support of the Pritzker administration, agriculture in Illinois continues to grow. The Department looks forward to moving our state’s number one industry forward as we enter 2023.”

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