Illinois Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Set A Record In July
The State of Illinois is one of the most populated states in the U.S. and is also home to a regulated adult-use cannabis industry. Illinois’ adult-use industry is one of the most regulated and limited models in the country.
With that being said, the model is still popular enough with consumers to generate sizable tax revenue. In fact, the month of July saw Illinois break a record for tax revenue, as outlined in a recent Chicago Tribune article:
Illinois marijuana shops sold almost $61 million in recreational weed in July, beating the previous record set in June by $13.4 million.
In all, dispensaries have sold about $300.1 million in recreational marijuana since sales started in Illinois Jan. 1.
Much like Washington State, Illinois does not permit adult-use cultivation, however, cultivating up to 5 plants for personal use is only punishable by a $200 fine, compared to cultivation still being a felony in Washington State.
Many lawmakers expressed concern regarding home cultivation when cannabis policies were being crafted which is presumably why it was left out of the model.
However, with personal cultivation not carrying a large penalty, and adult-use sales continuing to spike, it makes sense to remove the penalty for personal cultivation, as it will likely not have a significant impact on tax revenues.
Illinois’ legalization model is not perfect, however, it is better than prohibition and clearly the public policy change is benefiting the state. Hopefully, it builds momentum for other states, and for other nations, to get on the right side of history.