Recreational Marijuana
An Illinois dispensary for recreational marijuana is a licensed establishment that offers a selection of cannabis products. These include flower, cartridges, and pre-rolls.
In Illinois, recreational use of marijuana will be legal on January 1, 2020. Recreational possession of cannabis will only be allowed to those 21 and older. Those under the age of 21 may only purchase marijuana through a medical card.
The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates the sale of marijuana, including recreational and medical cannabis. There are strict limits on the amount of cannabis that a person can possess and the amount that can be purchased.
A qualified doctor can recommend a patient to use medical marijuana. The patient can then register with the state and obtain a medical card. After this, the patient can legally consume the prescribed medication.
Medical marijuana is now legal in Illinois, and patients can grow five plants. The maximum concentration of THC in these plants is 500 milligrams. However, a medical patient can also buy stronger strains of cannabis from a dispensary.
Cannabis is still illegal under federal law. Therefore, it is important to know the laws in your area. Depending on your location, you may be required to scan your ID before purchasing a cannabis product.
Using marijuana in public is illegal. This includes streets, parks, and even private property. It is also unlawful to smoke cannabis in a motor vehicle.
Rules For Edibles
Recreational marijuana has become legal in Illinois, but how can you consume it? There are many rules and restrictions to follow.
You cannot use marijuana in public or anywhere that tobacco smoking is already prohibited. However, you can smoke cannabis in your home or at select licensed establishments.
Adults over 21 can buy up to one ounce of marijuana flower and five grams of concentrate. Non-residents can purchase half of those amounts.
You can also buy edibles containing up to 500 milligrams of THC. Edibles come in different forms, such as chocolates, gummies and gummy bears.
Illinois dispensary rules for edibles are very similar to those for weed, but there are a few additional things to know. For instance, the state tax rate is 10 percent for items under 35 percent THC and 25 percent for items that contain more than 35 percent THC.
You can’t use a vehicle to transport cannabis products. Also, you cannot consume cannabis in a correctional facility or around firefighters. A locked box is best to transport your products.
Marijuana use is also not allowed on public streets and sidewalks, in parks, or near schools. The area surrounding a dispensary is considered a public place. It is also illegal to consume cannabis in public areas adjacent to a property owner’s home.
In addition, you can only purchase a limited amount of weed from an Illinois dispensary. For example, you can’t buy more than 30 grams of marijuana flower or five grams of extract or concentrate from a single dispensary in a day.
Litigation
The legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois has created a lot of buzz. The state’s new law promises to set the foundation for a thriving cannabis industry. However, the licensing process has been fraught with problems.
After the state’s lottery system for awarding recreational marijuana licenses, some applicants claimed that the scoring process was flawed. Others said they didn’t get notice of deficiencies until after they had already submitted their applications.
One company, High Haven, is suing the state over the licensing process. Specifically, it is claiming that the state’s regulatory requirements are blocking the kind of capital investment needed to open a legal dispensary.
In its most basic form, the social equity license program aims to create an environment where minority entrepreneurs have a better chance of breaking into the industry. According to the program, applicants must be from disadvantaged areas. Applicants also need to have relatives who have been involved in cannabis related crimes.
Although the alleged sexiest license is not one that the state will issue anytime soon, some dispensary lottery winners are already seeking zoning approvals from the City of Chicago.
This has been a problem for the State of Illinois since the process for issuing cannabis retail licenses began in early 2020. With the state expected to issue 75 dispensary licenses through a lottery, the process has been on shaky ground.
