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News Release – Thursday, September 10, 2026
Illinois Expands Access for Medical Cannabis Patients and Dispensaries
CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued medical cannabis dispensary licenses to 37 existing dispensaries which, beginning today, may serve both adult use customers and medical patients at the same location. Providing existing dispensaries with the ability to opt-in for a medical dispensary license greatly increases patient access across the state, while also eliminating unnecessary red tape for regulators and consumers alike. This change also allows newer dispensaries issued under social equity lotteries the chance to serve medical patients, leveling the playing field for small businesses.
“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 means 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.”
Under the new law, an adult-use dispensary with an active license in good standing may apply for a medical cannabis dispensary license. Once approved by IDFPR, the dispensary may sell cannabis to registered medical cannabis patients at the medical tax rate, up to the patient’s authorized allotment.
