The Highline Report
Tracker

Cannabis rules tracker

One place for rule, law and regulator changes that affect Illinois cannabis businesses and adult consumers. Each row is logged after we read the primary document.

Illinois

DateBodyItemWhat it doesPrimary sourceOur coverage
2026-10-27City of Peoria (local, under P.A. 104-0463)Council: dispensary hours 6 a.m.-10 p.m. codified (10-1); drive-through (7-4) and curbside deferred to Nov. 10State allows 6 a.m.-2 a.m. 'subject to local zoning' and drive-through/curbside after IDFPR approval; cities set local limitspeoriail.portal.civicclerk.com/event/127/files/r
2026-10-07IDFPRFY26 annual cannabis report (report dated Sept 30, 2026)IDFPR "issued 29 operational licenses to dispensaries" in FY2026, growing retail locations by over 10% (report p. 8, Executive Summary; p. 13 "29 licenses issued in FY2026" and "No new licenses were awarded in FY2026"). This is 29 licenses issued in the year, not the statewide total. Also: 755 inspections; SB 3222 rules expected in FY2027idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/Our story
2026-09-02IDFPRMonthly adult-use sales figuresMonthly sales PDF updated; IDFPR notes Metrc-era data and pre-discount prices in older monthsidfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/Our story
2026-06-12General Assembly / CRTASB 3222, Cannabis and Hemp Omnibus, Public Act 104-0463Signed June 12, 2026: adult-use dispensaries may opt in to serve medical patients, some dispensary-job barriers removed, ownership transparency increasedidfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/Our story
standingCRTA410 ILCS 705/55-20, advertising and promotionRules our own copy must follow: no under-21 appeal, no health claims, no consumption depictionilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/04
2026-10-16Illinois Department of AgricultureProposed rules: infuser social equity experience lottery (at least 45 licenses by Jan 1, 2027)$2,500 preapplication fee; lottery may be held if more than 45 qualify, with a hemp bonus draw; licenses not transferable; first-cycle renewal fee waived per rule text. Comment period through about Nov 30. Preapplication open date not announcedcannabis.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/can

Federal

DateBodyItemWhat it doesPrimary sourceOur coverage
2026-09-29DEA, Office of Administrative Law JudgesOrder Staying Case and Ordering Response to Motion, DEA Docket No. 1362, Hearing Docket No. 26-96Chief ALJ Derek C. Julius stayed the rescheduling proceeding pending a Sept 28 joint motion (DUID Victim Voices, Kenneth Finn, M.D., NDASA) to add the Sept 23 GAO report and allow more briefing; the Government's response was due Oct 13, 2026. The merits hearing ran June 29 to July 15, 2026. Trade press reported an Oct 21 date; the order says Oct 13, so check for a later orderdea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/Proposed%20MOur story
2026-09-23GAO (federal)GAO-26-108623, Drug SchedulingGAO found DEA lacks policies on scheduling roles and procedures and FDA lacks evaluation procedures; recommendations opengao.gov/products/gao-26-108623Our story
2026-04-28DOJ / DEA, Federal RegisterFR 2026-08176 (91 FR 22714), AG Order No. 6754-2026, final rule and order signed April 22, 2026 by Acting Attorney General Todd BlancheEffective April 28, 2026. Places in Schedule III: marijuana, marijuana extract and naturally derived delta-9-THC that are in an FDA-approved drug product or subject to a state medical marijuana license. Adds an expedited DEA registration path for state medical licensees (60-day early window; early filers may keep operating while pending), lets state rules stand in for federal labeling, packaging, disposal and security, accepts state medical certifications in place of prescriptions, and adds import/export permits. Does not cover: non-medical (adult-use) activity, which registrations expressly don't authorize; unlicensed or bulk marijuana, which stays Schedule I; synthetic THC (stays Schedule I); hemp. Says state medical licensees are no longer subject to IRC 280E but makes no tax determinationfederalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08Our story
2026-04-28DEA, Federal RegisterFR 2026-08177, new notice of hearing on rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III (Docket DEA-1362, AG Order 6753-2026), hearing from June 29, 2026Restarts the 2024 proposal's hearing under Executive Order 14370; this is the proceeding that could reschedule marijuana generally, beyond medicalfederalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08Our story
2026-04-28DEA, Federal RegisterFR 2026-08178, withdrawal of the August 2024 hearing noticeEnds the old hearing proceedings so the new one can runfederalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/28/2026-08
2026-10-14DEA, Office of Administrative Law JudgesOrder for Response to Motion to Reopen Hearing (dated Oct 14, 2026)The Government filed its opposition to the GAO motion on Oct 9 and defers to the tribunal on admitting the GAO report. SAM filed on Oct 13. On Oct 12 the moving parties filed two new motions, one asking to reopen the hearing for limited discovery and testimony if the GAO report is admitted. The ALJ reserved ruling on the GAO motion and ordered the Government to respond to the motion to reopen by Oct 21, 2026. The matter remains stayed. Refresh on or after Oct 21dea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/Proposed%20MOur story
2026-10-22DEA, Office of Administrative Law JudgesOrder on motions to admit GAO report and reopen hearing (dated Oct 22, 2026)Chief ALJ Derek C. Julius granted the motion to admit the Sept 23 GAO report, denied reopening the hearing for testimony or discovery, and invited optional briefs (max 10 double-spaced pages) by Oct 29 with replies by Nov 5; further briefing "disfavored"; the stay expires when briefing closes. No date for the recommended decision. Refresh on or after Nov 5marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-denies-marijuana-r
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