Feb. pot sales stay high at $35M

Cannabis tourists increase buys even with two fewer shopping days

Customers line up for legal cannabis outside a dispensary in Collinsville. (Shutterstock)

By Ted Cox

Legal sales of recreational cannabis held firm in February, driven by an increase in purchases by visitors from out of state even with two fewer shopping days.

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported Wednesday that state dispensaries sold $34.8 million in legal weed last month, down slightly from the $39.2 million in sales in the first month of legalization in January.

Illinois residents bought $25.6 million of that, down from $30 million the first month, but out-of-staters picked up some of the slack with an increase from $8.6 million to $9.2 million.

Even with Leap Day, February saw 29 sale days, down from 31 in January, but some dispensaries also continued to limit sales with shortages as cultivation sites ramp up to meet legal demand even while prioritizing medical-marijuana patients.

The state’s cannabis czarina maintained the rollout of recreational cannabis was proceeding as expected, and she emphasized that opportunities remain for so-called social-equity applicants prioritized in the original legalization law.

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These numbers show there continues to be a strong demand across the state as the most equity-centric cannabis program in the country moves forward in Illinois.”

Illinois cannabis czarina Toi Hutchinson (One Illinois/Ted Cox)

“These numbers show there continues to be a strong demand across the state as the most equity-centric cannabis program in the country moves forward in Illinois,” said Toi Hutchinson, senior adviser for cannabis control to Gov. Pritzker. “As the adult-use cannabis industry continues to grow, so will the number of opportunities for consumers and entrepreneurs alike — especially those from communities who suffered the most during the failed war on drugs.”

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation took pains to point out that the Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for cannabis-infuser, craft-grower, and transporter licenses through March 16, with priority given to social-equity applicants in areas that bore the brunt of the punishment in the War on Drugs, or who might have faced pot prosecution themselves. That includes technical assistance, grants, low-interest loans, and fee reductions and waivers for eligible applicants.

Applications are available online, and the Agriculture Department is teaming with the Department of Commerce on outreach programs including statewide workshops.