Illinois Responsible Vendor Certification

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation, Cannabis Control Section has approved businesses as “Responsible Vendors” authorized to provide mandatory health and safety training to cannabis dispensary agents often referred to as “budtenders.” Responsible Vendors provide dispensary agents important training on how to properly check purchaser identification, state laws and rules relating to dispensing cannabis, how to identify signs of impairment, physiological effects of cannabis, security measures, and health concerns related to cannabis consumption. The Responsible Vendor training requirement is based on similar training required of alcohol servers but is tailored to the Illinois cannabis regulatory structure. All medical cannabis dispensing agents currently working in Illinois must receive training from an approved Responsible Vendor to ensure they have been trained before they can do any adult-use sales. Any newly hired dispensary agents also will be required to receive training from an approved vendor within 90 days of their hire date. In addition, all budtenders must receive training annually to renew their license to work at a cannabis dispensary.