Illinois § 35-31

§ 35-31.

Ensuring an adequate supply of raw materials to serve infusers. (a) As used in this Section, "raw materials" includes, but is not limited to, CO 2 hash oil, "crude", "distillate", or any other cannabis concentrate extracted from cannabis flower by use of a solvent or a mechanical process. (b) The Department of Agriculture may by rule design a method for assessing whether licensed infusers have access to an adequate supply of reasonably affordable raw materials, which may include but not be limited to: (i) a survey of infusers; (ii) a market study on the sales trends of cannabis-infused products manufactured by infusers; and (iii) the costs cultivation centers and craft growers assume for the raw materials they use in any cannabis-infused products they manufacture. (c) The Department of Agriculture shall perform an assessment of whether infusers have access to an adequate supply of reasonably affordable raw materials that shall start no sooner than January 1, 2022 and shall conclude no later than April 1, 2022. The Department of Agriculture may rely on data from the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer as part of this assessment. (d) The Department of Agriculture shall perform an assessment of whether infusers have access to an adequate supply of reasonably affordable raw materials that shall start no sooner than January 1, 2023 and shall conclude no later than April 1, 2023. The Department of Agriculture may rely on data from the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer as part of this assessment. (e) The Department of Agriculture may by rule adopt measures to ensure infusers have access to an adequate supply of reasonably affordable raw materials necessary for the manufacture of cannabis-infused products. Such measures may include, but not be limited to (i) requiring cultivation centers and craft growers to set aside a minimum amount of raw materials for the wholesale market or (ii) enabling infusers to apply for a processor license to extract raw materials from cannabis flower. (f) If the Department of Agriculture determines processor licenses may be available to infuser organizations based upon findings made pursuant to subsection (e), infuser organizations may submit to the Department of Agriculture on forms provided by the Department of Agriculture the following information as part of an application to receive a processor license: (1) experience with the extraction, processing, or infusing of oils similar to those derived from cannabis, or other business practices to be performed by the infuser; (2) a description of the applicant's experience with manufacturing equipment and chemicals to be used in processing; (3) expertise in relevant scientific fields; (4) a commitment that any cannabis waste, liquid waste, or hazardous waste shall be disposed of in accordance with 8 Ill. Adm. Code 1000.460, except, to the greatest extent feasible, all cannabis plant waste will be rendered unusable by grinding and incorporating the cannabis plant waste with compostable mixed waste to be disposed of in accordance with Ill. Adm. Code 1000.460(g)(1); and (5) any other information the Department of Agriculture deems relevant. (g) The Department of Agriculture may only issue an infuser organization a processor license if, based on the information pursuant to subsection (f) and any other criteria set by the Department of Agriculture, which may include but not be limited an inspection of the site where processing would occur, the Department of Agriculture is reasonably certain the infuser organization will process cannabis in a safe and compliant manner. (Source: P.A. 101-27, eff. 6-25-19; 101-593, eff. 12-4-19.)