As Illinois residents continue to shelter-in-place under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s March 20 statewide order, cannabis sales remain strong.
Dispensaries have been allowed to stay open during Pritzker’s order, having been deemed essential businesses and operations.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on Thursday announced preliminary figures for statewide adult-use cannabis sales from March.
According to the Department, dispensaries sold 812,203 items during March, bringing in $35,902,543.22 in sales.
Illinois residents accounted for the majority of cannabis sales in the state during March with a total of $27,096,931.23 in purchases, while out-out-state visitors bought $8,805,611.99 worth of cannabis products.
The totals do not include taxes collected.
A portion of every adult-use cannabis sale is designated for communities harmed the most by cannabis criminalization.
“Three straight months of consistent adult use cannabis sales show there is—and will continue to be—strong support and demand from consumers,” said Senior Advisor for Cannabis Control to Governor Pritzker Toi Hutchinson. “To ensure medical users are able to access they (sic) product they need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, curbside pickup will remain an option for medical patients through April 30th.”
While being allowed to stay open, dispensaries must adhere to provisional operating guidelines, as outlined by Cannabis Control Section Deputy Director Bret Bender.
Adult-use sales at dispensaries must take place within their on-site limited access areas, but shops that are licensed to sell medical cannabis may do so elsewhere on their property or adjacent public walkway or curb.
Caregivers may still make purchases for medical cannabis patients, but dispensaries will not be permitted to make deliveries to the patient or caregiver’s home.
Governor Pritzker on March 28 signed an executive order to extend Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) license application deadlines for cannabis infusers, craft growers, and transporters from March 30 to April 30, 2020.
As required, IDOA will issue up to 40 craft grower licenses, up to 40 infuser licenses, and any transporter licenses by July 1
There is no limit to the number of transporter licenses that the state may issue, but applicants must score at least 75 percent of available points and meet other requirements.
