* One of the overlooked aspects of the cannabis/hemp omnibus bill is the easing of some restrictions on the heavily regulated cannabis industry. Tribune…
For Illinois residents, the bill increased the limits to 60 grams, or about 2 ounces, of flower used for smoking, 1,000 milligrams in infused products like edibles, and 10 grams of cannabis concentrate. Out-of-state residents may possess half that much.
Dispensaries would be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m., rather than the current 10 p.m. closing time, unless local communities set other hours.
Most importantly for medical cannabis users, the bill would allow any licensed dispensary to sell what’s designated as medical cannabis, which is not subject to the same high retail taxes as recreational weed. Previously, only certain dispensaries sold such tax-exempt products, forcing purchases in some cases to drive long distances. […]
For the first time, the bill also would allow drive-thru service. And licensed cannabis would be permitted to be accessible in a car as long as it’s in the original sealed packaging.
Illinois is infamous for this sort of thing. It happened with medical cannabis as well. The playbook is always the same: Include a ton of regulations to make sure it can pass, then spend years loosening those regulations because so many are overly burdensome or simply unworkable.
* CNI…
Cannabis social equity operators would be allowed to hire their own security staff rather than contract with a third party — a requirement that’s viewed as one of the largest regulatory costs on licensees.
Canopy space allowed for craft growers would increase from 5,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet. […]
Home rule communities would be prohibited from making their own cannabis tax structures on a per-weight basis
Dispensaries would have an additional six months to become operational. They currently have just under two years.
The definition of “principal officer” would change from 1% to 10% in privately-held businesses. The idea is to help social equity operators attract minority investors who, under the current system, are subject to strenuous compliance burdens.
* MJ Biz Daily…
Waive or reduce renewal fees for small cannabis operators
Require social equity transporters to handle 50% of cannabis transport
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 2:09 pm:
The sky hasn’t fallen since marijuana was legalized. These are good changes for consumers. Las Vegas has dispensaries open late. Next they should allow delivery of medical marijuana, like Vegas.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 2:17 pm:
===allow delivery of medical marijuana, like Vegas===
And California.
- Paying Attention - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 2:38 pm:
California is working on permitting drive-through sales, which Illinois just passed.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-dispensary-drive-thru-windows-advances-in-senate-after-clearing-full-assembly/
- Loyal Virus - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 3:09 pm:
Medical card holders being able to buy at any dispensary eases a huge burden on those patients in more rural areas. Add my support for medical delivery too.
- Techie - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 3:41 pm:
Good moves in the right direction. Still, why any limit to how much someone can posses? No such limits on alcohol, a much more dangerous drug.
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 3:56 pm:
== Still, why any limit to how much someone can posses? No such limits on alcohol, a much more dangerous drug.==
Because cannabis still hasn’t fully removed the unfair stigma “Reefer Madness” and the like placed on it.
There really is no practical reason at this point.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 4:43 pm:
== The sky hasn’t fallen since marijuana was legalized.==
The State’s “Annual Cannabis Report” finds that cannabis use disorder is found among 7.7% of Illinoisans 16-65 compared to 6.5% in 2022.
An additional 11.9% meet the criteria for hazardous cannabis use. The number was just 2% in 2020.
- Which One’s Pink - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 5:50 pm:
Better late than never. Missouri has had drive through service all along plus cannabis products can be sold in grocery stores in a locked case. Also, I believe Missouri allows for folks to grow a small amount of their own.