Rep. Bob Morgan and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) today announced in separate press releases that IDFPR issued medical cannabis dispensary licenses to 37 existing dispensaries that, starting today, can now serve both adult-use customers and medical patients at the same location. Adult-use dispensaries that are now serving medical patients can be tracked via the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer’s updated map.

The 37 dispensaries that have opted in include Bloc Dispensary Antioch, Bloc Dispensary Berwyn, BLOC Dispensary Kedzie, Bloc Forest Park, Bloc Dispensary Mattoon, Bloc Dispensary Metropolis, Bloc Dispensary Northfield, Cannect Dispensary, Consume Antioch, Consume Carbondale, Ivy Hall Bolingbrook, Ivy Hall Damen, Ivy Hall Logan Square, Ivy Hall Crystal Lake, Ivy Hall Edwardsville, Ivy Hall Glendale Heights, Ivy Hall Montgomery, Ivy Hall Peoria, Ivy Hall Streamwood, Ivy Hall Waukegan, Nature’s Treatment, NuEra Aurora, NuEra Champaign, NuEra East Dubuque, nuEra Chicago Southland, Starbuds Burbank, Starbuds Hoffman Estates, Starbuds Riverside, Starbuds Westmont, Terrabis Dixon, Terrabis Grayville, Terrabis Plainfield, Terrabis Woodstock, Terrace Alton, Terrace Cannabis Milan, and The Carbondale Dispensary.

The expansion was a key component of the comprehensive cannabis reform package signed into law in June 2026. Previously, Illinois’ medical cannabis market remained limited to the initial 55 dispensaries licensed through the state’s original medical cannabis program, even as the adult-use marketplace expanded across the state. The law allows adult-use dispensaries to obtain a medical cannabis license and serve registered patients at the medical-cannabis tax rate. This is the first expansion of medical cannabis dispensary locations since the establishment of the program in 2014.

Dispensaries, including nuEra and Ivey Hall, have already announced in press releases today that they are now serving medical patients. Approximately 40 out of 220 adult-use dispensaries have signed up to serve medical patients, though more dispensaries are expected to opt in. All new dispensary opening in Illinois will also have the option to seek a medical cannabis dispensary license and serve patients.

There are currently 288 adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Illinois, including 178 dispensaries awarded through social equity lotteries that have opened their doors. There are 68 conditional licensees from social equity lotteries that are working toward full dispensary licenses.

The legislation also made changes related to dispensary operations, licensing, possession limits, medical cannabis, and other aspects of Illinois’ cannabis regulatory framework. The law also:

1. Allows telehealth certification: Health care providers may certify qualifying patients through telehealth, removing an unnecessary in-person barrier for patients with medical conditions.
2. Modernizes dispensary access: Dispensaries may provide curbside pickup and drive-through service for medical and recreational customers, with priority for medical patients.
3. Expands qualifying conditions: Adds medical conditions, including endometriosis and ovarian cysts.
4. Updates cannabis regulations: Modernizes possession limits and streamlines licensing, employee badging, and other regulatory requirements.
5. Supports social equity businesses: Qualifying businesses receive additional flexibility, financial relief, and more time to become operational.

Below are quotes from politicians and other proponents of the change.

“For years, medical cannabis patients have watched new dispensaries open in their communities while being told they could not access their medicine there simply because those locations were licensed only for recreational use,” said State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), who has worked on Illinois’ medical cannabis program for more than a decade. “We have worked for years to change that. Today, 37 more dispensaries can serve medical patients, giving Illinois residents shorter trips, more choices, and better access to the care they rely on. We also know additional dispensaries will be opting into the medical cannabis program, so further expansion is on the way.”

“For me, this has always come back to the patients,” Morgan continued. “We built Illinois’ medical cannabis program to help people struggling with debilitating medical conditions, and our responsibility is to make sure it keeps pace with the needs of the patients it was created to serve. This law makes the system more accessible, more practical, and more responsive. After years of advocating for these changes, I’m proud to see them translate into real access for patients in communities across Illinois.”

“Expanding access to medical cannabis is an important step toward ensuring Illinois patients have more options to obtain the medicine they rely on,” said Mario Treto, Jr., Secretary of IDFPR. “More dispensaries mean better options and increased convenience for medical patients, while still maintaining the regulatory safeguards that protect patients and promote a safe and responsible cannabis industry.”

“This is a monumental day for medical patients, who have long advocated for these changes,” said Erin A. Johnson, Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer. “We are also proud to expand opportunities for the many small cannabis businesses who have wanted to serve medical patients for years.”

“IDFPR has been advocating for expanded access to the medical cannabis market, and this change creates meaningful opportunities for both patients and dispensaries,” said Vaughn G. Bentley.

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