Representative Morgan Celebrates Governor Pritzker Signing Legislation Expanding Access to Medical Cannabis for Illinois Patients
New law allows medical cannabis patients to access medication at more dispensaries statewide while avoiding sales tax on their medicine.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois medical cannabis patients will soon have greater access to their medication under legislation championed by State Representative Bob Morgan and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker.
Senate Bill 3222 HA2 builds upon Illinois’ nationally recognized medical cannabis program by allowing licensed adult-use dispensaries to opt into serving registered medical cannabis patients, significantly increasing the number of locations where patients can obtain their medication. The legislation also expands access to telehealth certifications and removes barriers that have made it more difficult for patients to receive treatment.
For Morgan, the legislation represents the continuation of work he began more than a decade ago.
“Before serving in the General Assembly, I had the privilege of helping create Illinois’ medical cannabis program under Governor Pat Quinn,” Morgan said. “From the beginning, our mission was simple: ensure patients suffering from serious medical conditions could access the medicine recommended by their doctors in a safe, affordable, and dignified manner. This law advances that mission by making it easier for patients to obtain their medication, regardless of where they live in Illinois.”
Morgan helped establish the framework for Illinois’ original medical cannabis program, which has provided relief to thousands of patients living with cancer, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, and other debilitating conditions.
While the program has grown substantially since its creation, many patients continue to face barriers to access. In many communities, adult-use dispensaries operate without a corresponding medical dispensary, forcing patients to travel long distances to obtain their medication or pay additional sales tax because a medical dispensary is not available nearby.
Senate Bill 3222 HA2 addresses those challenges by allowing adult-use dispensaries to participate in the medical cannabis program, significantly expanding the number of locations where registered patients can purchase their medication. By increasing access points throughout Illinois, the law will reduce travel burdens for patients and help ensure that individuals who rely on medical cannabis can obtain their medicine without paying unnecessary cannabis excise taxes.
The legislation also authorizes telehealth certifications for medical cannabis patients, further reducing barriers for individuals with mobility challenges, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or transportation limitations.
Governor Pritzker signed the measure into law as part of Illinois’ ongoing effort to improve patient access while maintaining strong consumer protections and regulatory oversight.
“This legislation is ultimately about patients,” Morgan said. “It’s about the veteran managing PTSD, the cancer patient undergoing treatment, the senior living with chronic pain, and the countless Illinoisans who rely on medical cannabis to improve their quality of life. We created this program to help people, and today we are making it work even better for the patients it was designed to serve.”
Senate Bill 3222 HA2 takes effect January 1, 2027.
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