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 covers the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) portion of the report.

According to the report, the IDPH Division of Medical Cannabis “continued to modernize the way we manage information and communicate to the public. As a part of this modernization, IDPH launched the new Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System in April 2025. IDPH has also updated our website and now includes guides on use of the new system. Internal staff and local health department staff were also trained on the new system’s functions, capabilities, and processes.”

IDPH continues to focus on building capacity with the hiring of additional staff needed to meet the demands of processing and customer service. Two front line staff positions were filled, including one that is Spanish speaking to improve customer care. A senior processor was also hired to help improve the quality of processing. Hiring processes were started for a new nurse manager, an additional Spanish-speaking processor, and an administrative support staff.

In addition, IDPH has continued to work with local health departments to assist patients and caregivers with applications for Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Cards.

The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board (MCAB) convened once in FY2025. An MCAB Chair and Vice Chair were appointed by the Governor and subsequently provided introductions and discussed processes for future MCAB meetings and agenda. Four new qualifying conditions were recommended by the MCAB in FY2024 and were approved and implemented in FY2025. The additional conditions went live in the system in January of 2025.

Finally, IDPH implemented a new call center that allows recording and quality checks to improve customer service.

For the FY2026, the Division of Medical Cannabis plans to focus on improvement in the quality of consumer engagement and access for participants. Strategies for this fiscal year include initiation of an education and training program for both internal and external stakeholders. This entails providing staff additional education and training, ensuring robust quality assurance, improving customer experience, and enhancing processes and procedures in the unit. A priority for customer experience improvement will be to address issues encountered by clients in the new registry system and provide resolution.

To improve the quality of processing and customer service, IDPH will update its quality assurance program. Analyses of that program will inform updates to processes and procedures. This approach will also lead to additional strategies at IDPH beyond the fiscal year to improve the overall program.

IDPH FY26 essential projects include:

1. Launch partnership with stakeholders in medical cannabis education and training.
2. Review and enhance the Medical Cannabis Program quality assurance plan.
3. Implement education and training program.

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