The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) emailed medical patients and caregivers today with updates to the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. On June 12, 2026, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3222 (SB3222). The following are notable changes enacted by the legislation.

Illinois dispensaries that currently hold an active license to sell adult-use cannabis may opt in to get a medical cannabis dispensing license and serve medical patients at their medical tax rate. Dispensaries may begin opting in on September 10, 2026. For more information on which dispensaries opt in, please refer to IDFPR’s website. IDFPR has posted a fact-sheet about SB3222.

Health Care Providers (HCPs) who meet the statutory criteria to issue medical cannabis certifications are no longer required to conduct an in-person examination. HCPs must still hold an Illinois professional license as a physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner, and an Illinois Controlled Substance License, to provide medical cannabis certifications. The Act permits sharing of certain information for approved research purposes, contingent upon approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Please be assured that patient information remains protected and any data sharing will be limited and defined by the scope of the approved research. For questions regarding dispensaries please contact FPR.MedicalCannabis@illinois.gov. For any questions regarding patient or caregiver applications, please contact IDPH at 855-636-3688 or dph.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov.

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