The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), in conjunction with the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board (MCAB), hosted its September virtual meeting from 3:30-5 p.m. Monday. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office (CROO), and IDPH presented updated information to board members and the public.

Representatives summarized their agency’s responsibilities and then presented the latest updates and data. The IDPH representative discussed the implementation of the new patient registration portal and the upcoming window for petition submissions for proposed new qualifying conditions (Jan. 1-31, 2026). Vaughn Bentley, Deputy Director of Cannabis Control at IDFPR, stated that Illinois currently has 263 licensed adult-use dispensaries, including the original 55 that serve medical patients. Bentley touted the addition of curbside pickup for medical patients, upcoming dispensary staff training programs, and transitioning to the new seed-to-sale tracking system, Metrc. In addition, Bentley mentioned the upcoming implementation of Core, a new licensing system designed to streamline the application process.  Bentley also said IDFPR was collaboration with lawmakers to allow for larger purchase allotment for medical patients and access to cannabis products, with medical-tax rates, at all Illinois dispensaries.

IDOA representative, David Lakeman, delivered the latest updated data for cultivation centers, craft growers, infusers, independent transporters, and testing laboratories. Lakeman stated that IDOA has issued 362 total licenses, including the original 21 medical cannabis cultivation centers, 88 craft growers, 54 infusers, and 189 transporters. In addition, Lakeman mentioned updating hemp regulations and the new Bureau of Cannabis Testing, a state-run cannabis-testing laboratory.

“We want to be sure that we are…providing both a resource to the industry, as well as a regulatory tool for ourselves and making sure that that product is safe and well tested,” Lakeman said. “It is our firm belief that safe testing is a cornerstone. It is foundational to a legal industry, whether it be medical or adult use, and we want to be sure that we are meeting our obligations there and doing our best to meet that mission.”

Nathaniel Inglis Steinfeld, the Data Deputy at CROO, stated Illinois had collected $281 million in adult-use cannabis taxes in fiscal year 2025, and that those funds were deposited into the Cannabis Regulation Fund and distributed based on allocations set by the legislature. He also discussed the benefits of a Metrc portal for consumers, that would give consumers online access to all available cannabis products and those product’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA) testing results.

Petition submissions for proposed new qualifying conditions are due between Jan. 1-31, 2026. MCAB will begin consideration for new qualifying conditions at the next board meeting scheduled for 3:30-5 p.m. Feb. 9, 2026.

For more Illinois cannabis industry news, subscribe to Illinois News Joint’s newsletter here.

To find cannabis-friendly events in Illinois, visit here.

For Illinois News Joint reviews, visit here.

For more information on News Joint Bar Service, visit here.

For News Joint Printing services, click here.