How does Illinois spend its millions in marijuana tax revenue?

By Dylan Sharkey

04/19/2023

April 20 marks Illinois’ fourth high holiday with recreational marijuana. Here’s how cannabis tax dollars are used. March’s monthly sales topped $135 million.

TAGS: marijuana

Illinois cannabis sales dip from monthly record

By Dylan Sharkey

02/27/2023

December 2022 broke the record for monthly cannabis sales in Illinois, but January 2023 couldn’t keep up.

TAGS: marijuana

Fact check: Illinois marijuana revenue $600M below potential

By Dylan Sharkey

07/27/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting how much marijuana revenue Illinois received in 2021. But high taxes and regulatory blunders have kept Illinois weed between $200 million and $600 million shy of its potential.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, legalization, marijuana, taxes

Illinois’ half-baked marijuana legalization costs state $600M

By Adam Schuster

04/20/2022

A complex system of high taxes and restrictive licensing undermines the goals of marijuana legalization proponents – leaving $600 million in potential revenue uncollected while helping the illegal drug trade.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, marijuana, taxes

Marijuana sales dip as Illinois’ high taxes boost illegal market

By Dylan Sharkey

03/23/2022

Illinois’ cannabis dispensaries are noticing a steady drop in sales after record-setting sales in December. High prices and a lack of supply likely push customers to street dealers.

TAGS: Illinois, marijuana

Marijuana tax suspended to cut San Francisco crime surge

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2021

High taxes on marijuana are believed to help illegal dealers and violence thrive, so San Francisco is holding off on new city pot taxes to help legal dispensaries compete. Illinois and Chicago, where taxes top 40%, may want to pay attention.

TAGS: black market, legalization, marijuana, San Francisco

Illinois marijuana sales double, likely to hit $1.5 billion for 2021

By Dylan Sharkey

12/06/2021

Legal marijuana has seen nine consecutive months tally at least $100 million in Illinois sales. The state is on pace to double the previous year and exceed $1.5 billion in sales. Still, Illinois’ illegal market churns out higher sales and violence.

TAGS: Illinois, marijuana, revenue

Marijuana company investigated for pay to play? Hired Madigan cronies.

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2021

A Chicago-based marijuana company is facing a federal investigation into whether it bought influence to gain state licenses, sources told the Chicago Tribune. It hired four close associates of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, marijuana, Mike Madigan

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

By Austin Berg

01/09/2020

Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, decriminalization, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, Springfield, tax burden, taxes, THC

What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois

By Austin Berg

01/01/2020

Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, legalization, marijuana