Illinois Cannabis News

Cannabis sales to out-of-state residents have nearly doubled in Illinois, from $8.6 million in January to $17.2 million in August.

A partner at one of the 21 companies chosen for Illinois’ upcoming cannabis license lottery is also an employee for the firm who graded the state’s cannabis license applications.

AAA is giving $100,000 in grants to various Illinois agencies to study and prevent stoned driving in the newly legalized state.

Killer Mike and El-P, the rappers known collectively as Run the Jewels, have partnered with cannabis companies Cookies and Lemonnade to provide their first branded cannabis strain, Ooh Lala.

Illinois is dedicating $31 million in cannabis taxes to a new grant program aimed at small businesses and non-profits in disadvantaged communities.

Illinois cannabis dispensaries set sales records in June despite cultivators struggling to meet demand under current canopy restrictions.

Advocates have published a rebuke to a recent article released by MG Retailer, calling it an “irresponsible” representation of social equity efforts in the cannabis space.

Illinois officials say the state is almost ready to begin awarding social equity cannabis licenses after Gov. J.B. Pritzker suspended the process in late April due to the pandemic-prompted shutdown.

Cresco Labs has appointed Michele Roberts, head of the NBA Players Association, to its board of directors; she is the first woman and person of color appointed to the company’s board.

A recent industry rules update allows Illinois hemp producers to sell to licensed medical and adult-use cannabis processors.

Illinois cannabis retailers recorded their second-highest sales month of the year in April, despite the ongoing pandemic.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Illinois Gov. Pritzker has indefinitely pushed back the date for awarding the state’s social equity cannabis licenses.

Pamela Althoff is the Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, the state’s top cannabis industry trade organization, and a former state senator.

Cresco Labs announced it will start prioritizing recruiting new employees from the industries most significantly impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

While many states have chosen to let dispensaries stay open during the coronavirus crisis, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has announced the shutdown of adult-use sales.

An entrepreneurial Girl Scout troop sold 230 boxes of cookies over four hours outside of Chicago’s Dispensary33; the dispensary, which supported the cookie sales, has asked the troop to return for the rest of the month.

Western Illinois University has announced it will offer a minor in cannabis production including 18-19 credit hours and additional coursework from the department of biological sciences.

Activists in Chicago are pushing for the city to allow for cannabis “peddler’s permits,” which would enable cannabis sales in a similar manner to street food vendors.

Security cameras captured a traveler who had just arrived at Chicago’s Midway Airport as they searched through and pocketed cannabis products from one of the airport’s cannabis amnesty boxes.

An on-site consumption plan by Illinois Supply and Provisions in Springfield, Illinois has been approved by the city council; it’s the first time in the state that on-site cannabis consumption was approved by a municipality.

Tax rates on adult-use cannabis in Chicago could reach as high as 41 percent for high-potency products after local regulators approved an extra 3 percent tax on all cannabis retailers.

Cresco Labs in Chicago has opened the application period for the company’s community business incubator program called SEED, or Social Equity & Education Development.

One week after the launch of legal cannabis sales in the state, Illinois dispensaries are already low on products, forcing some to close and/or stop serving adult-use customers.

Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports have established so-called cannabis amnesty boxes for travelers who want to dispose of any adult-use products before heading through a security checkpoint.