Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Announces Adult Use Cannabis License in Sixth Round of Announcements

CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has announced one more "Same Site" adult use cannabis license, which will allow an existing medical cannabis dispensary to obtain an adult use dispensing license. This license will permit the dispensary to begin adult use cannabis sales at that location starting January 1, 2020, provided the dispensary complies with local zoning rules or other local laws. These recent approvals raise the total number of approved "Same Site" licenses to thirty. The list of dispensaries approved for adult use cannabis sales can be found here.

In addition to opening adult use dispensaries at the same site of their medical cannabis dispensaries, existing medical cannabis dispensaries are permitted under the law to open a second site for adult use sales at a different location. In the coming months, new applicants, including social equity applicants, will have the opportunity to apply for an additional seventy-five adult use cannabis licenses. Social equity applicants are eligible for additional points on their application and for technical assistance, low-interest loans and fee reductions. More information about applying as a social equity applicant can be found here.

The medical dispensary that received an early approval adult use license is:

The Herbal Care Center
1301 S Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

The Department anticipates receiving additional applications for early approval adult use licenses as municipalities adopt relevant zoning ordinances regarding adult use cannabis.

Starting January 1, 2020, the law permits Illinois residents who are at least 21 years old to legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate.