The governor of Illinois has signed a large-scale cannabis omnibus bill into law that doubles the amount of marijuana that adults can legally possess, significantly restricts hemp THC products and makes other changes to rules for how licensed businesses can operate.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday gave final approval to the legislation, which cleared the House of Representatives and Senate about two weeks ago.
As enacted into law, SB 3222 allows residents of the state who are over 21 years of age to possess up to 60 grams of marijuana flower—double the amount in prior law. They are also able to have up to 10 grams of cannabis concentrates and infused products with up to 1,000 mg of THC—also double the earlier limit. Possession amounts for adult non-residents are also doubled under the bill.
People with past convictions for possession of up to 60 grams of marijuana will now be able to have those records expunged—double the previous cutoff allowing only those with convictions for up to 30 grams to be eligible.
The legislation also recriminalizes hemp THC products with more than 04. milligrams of THC per container, in line with a federal ban that is set to take effect in November.
“Instead of letting an ambiguous marketplace keep putting people at risk, Illinois is taking action to protect consumers of all ages, especially children, from misleading packaging and labeling,” Pritzker said in a press release. “This landmark legislation closes the intoxicating hemp loophole while bolstering equity and oversight and expanding medical access. Illinois is committed to cultivating a cannabis industry that benefits diverse businesses across the state and prioritizes accessibility, and I am proud to sign this measure into law.”
Among other changes, the bill also allows drive-thrus and curbside pickup at dispensaries, permits them to stay open until 2 a.m. and makes it so medical cannabis certifications can be issued via telehealth.
Canopy limits for craft cannabis cultivators will be expanded form 5,000 to 14,000 square feet, and the new law loosens some security requirements for marijuana businesses while also waiving or reducing fees for smaller operators.
In 2019, Pritzker signed the state’s initial marijuana legalization policy into law.
While the broader restrictions on hemp products take effect in the state on November 12 in conjunction with the similar federal move, sales to people under 21 are prohibited immediately,
The legislation separately allows all marijuana dispensaries to register to sell medical cannabis specifically. The list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions is also being expanded to add female orgasmic disorder, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.
“Illinois has led the nation in building a cannabis industry that prioritizes both equity and public safety, and SB 3222 builds on that progress,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said. “By protecting young people from unregulated intoxicating hemp products and creating clear standards for the industry, we are ensuring consumers are safer while preserving opportunities for diverse businesses and communities across our state.”
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
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