Cannabis Report FY2024 (IDOA portion)
Illinois officials recently released the Annual Cannabis Report for Fiscal Year 2024. The 144-page report, compiled by the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office (CROO), incorporates data from several state departments. This article focuses on the Department of Agriculture (IDOA), which is the lead regulator for a broad swath of the cannabis industry in Illinois and consists of three bureaus.
IDOA updates and initiatives for FY2024 include:
- State cannabis testing laboratory is projected to become operational prior to the end of
calendar year 2024.
- New licensing case management system is in final stages of launch and new product
registration launch is live.
- Job titles for Cannabis Regulator and Trainee positions are approved.
- Hemp Rules on second notice to be approved by end of 2024.
According to the report, the Department has issued licenses for:
- 21 Adult Use Cultivation Centers
- 87 Craft Growers, 55 Infusers
- 163 Transporters
- 10 approved Cannabis Community College Vocational Pilot Program participants
Of those licensees (at the time of this report), 16 Craft Grow licensees are operational, as well as 15 Infuser licensees, with dozens more of each license type engaged in the buildout of their facilities. The Department has also registered 6 cannabis testing labs. Of the 87 Craft Grow Licenses, 87 were issued to Social Equity Applicants. Of the 55 infusers, 54 of the licenses were issued to Social Equity Applicants. Of the 163 transporters, 139 of the licenses were issued to Social Equity Applicants.
Beginning with the 21 Cultivation Centers originally licensed under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act in 2015, the role of the Department has grown with passage of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act in 2019 to include Craft Grow, Infuser, and Transportation licenses, as well as oversight of the Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program.
IDOA’s three bureaus include:
1)The Bureau of Licensing and Administration, which is responsible for issuing licenses, administering the Hemp Program, agent registration cards, and other programs.
2) The Bureau of Inspections, which is responsible for the inspectors charged with ensuring a safe and healthy cannabis market in Illinois as well as reviewing blueprints and construction plans.
3) The Bureau of Cannabis Testing, which is engaged in the process of building a state cannabis testing lab, scheduled to be completed in October 2024.
IDOA states, “In FY25, the Department is focused on its core goals of supporting a nascent program while building out an efficient regulatory structure to ensure a safe and equitable industry.” IDOA lists its FY2025 Goals as:
- Continue to support equity licensee construction and operations.
- Continue to build on progress tracking and developing data.
- Provide operational support to the Illinois cannabis industry though completion of the Department’s Cannabis Testing Laboratory.
IDOA FY2025 Essential Projects include:
- Implement active label verification.
- Continue to streamline licensing and inspections processes with paperless data.
- Begin implementation of updated USDA Hemp Rules.
The state departments that contributed data to the annual report included the Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Department of Agriculture (IDOA), State Police, Department of Public Health (IDPH), Department of Revenue, Department of Human Services (IDHS), and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Check back soon for articles detailing information in the report from these departments or click here for previously published articles.
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