Illinois is riding high on a record-setting year of cannabis sales despite a worldwide pandemic and ongoing licensing issues. Already having set sales records throughout the spring and summer, officials now report passing $100 million in total October cannabis sales from the state’s combined adult-use and medical cannabis markets.
Having just launched in January, adult-use dispensaries reported a whopping $75 million in sales for the month, while the state’s established medical cannabis system reported receipts totaling $33 million, the Washington Times reports.
Over $500 million of cannabis has been sold in Illinois this year with $200 million from the state’s adult-use market.
Illinois has licensed 70 adult-use locations but has the potential to raise that number to 500, according to the Chicago Tribune. On November 3, 2020, six more cities/suburbs around the state decided to allow adult-use cannabis while just one rejected expanding sales.
Despite the record sales, there have been some issues around licensing this year in Illinois. The latest issue arose when Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced applicants who did not qualify for the state’s most recent license lottery could have a second chance to apply after some applicants said they were not given a chance to correct their applications like other applicants.
Three successful applicants sued, further delaying the issuing of licenses, Marijuana Business Daily reports.
Illinois has opted for an approach similar to Colorado’s in allowing existing medical cannabis businesses to get the first pick of available licenses.
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