* Press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined legislators and community members at Sway Dispensary to celebrate the passage of SB 3222, landmark legislation that prohibits the sale of intoxicating hemp to minors and advances safety, equity, and oversight in the cannabis industry.

Signed into law last month, SB 3222 provides commonsense regulations around intoxicating hemp products — including Delta-8, THC-P, and HHC — that had previously been sold outside Illinois’ regulated adult-use cannabis market. Many of these products have been marketed in packaging that appeals to children or misleadingly labels their contents. The new law establishes stronger safeguards to keep these products out of the hands of minors. […]

Now in effect, the State of Illinois prohibits the sale of intoxicating hemp products to people under the age of 21. Beginning in November 2026, intoxicating hemp products will be subject to regulations set forth in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), including:

- Requiring child-proof packaging;
- Banning misleading marketing and packaging that rips off consumer brands to appeal to children; and
- Ensuring the existing cannabis regulatory framework applies to intoxicating hemp products ​ […]

In addition to instituting new safety measures for intoxicating hemp, this legislation makes the existing market more accessible to medical cannabis patients; equitable across a growing, diverse industry; and efficient in regulatory and oversight processes.

Key provisions include:

- Eliminating barriers for medical cannabis patients – including allowing all Illinois dispensaries to register as medical cannabis dispensaries; implementing curbside and drive-thru pick up methods; and expanding qualifying conditions, which can now be certified over telehealth
- Advancing social equity by introducing income-based hardship waivers, allowing more time to reach operational status, and reducing costs for businesses
- Improves efficiency in regulatory and oversight by optimizing how state agencies can share information, unify badging systems, administer financial assistance programs, and synchronize taxes across the industry

* From Medical Cannabis Advisory Board vice chair Jim Champion’s remarks during the press conference…

I’m excited to be here today to celebrate this legislation. My wife, Sandy, and I have worked in Illinois medical cannabis for over 18 years, helping craft and pass the original medical cannabis law, and I can tell you that this is the most meaningful reform to our medical cannabis program since it was actually signed into law almost 13 years ago. […] This law also includes allows drive-through and curbside pick up until 2 am for all customers; permits physicians to certify through telehealth and it also adds the medical conditions that were approved by the medical cannabis advisory board. As a board member I have to say I’m especially pleased to see this. This is something we never saw happen under the previous administration, and it’s rewarding to know that the board’s hard work is being acknowledged and recognized. […]

We still have work to do, like we would like to create a delivery service, especially for patients who cannot travel to dispensaries. We’d like to increase the amounts of cannabis patients can purchase without requiring a doctor’s approval and without forcing them to pay adult use prices, and many more. But today we celebrate.