ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Cannabis sales in Illinois saw massive growth in 2023 for the third consecutive year.
According to the the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”), the state saw $1.6 billion in adult use cannabis sales, which set a new annual record in 2023.
The state saw $417.6 million collected from Illinois marijuana dispensaries through a sales tax in 2023, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Records were also set in sales to in-state residents and the number of items sold, with that total increasing more than 15% compared to 2022.
“From day one, my administration has put equity first to build the most accessible cannabis industry in the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a statement. “Our work will continue to repair past harm while providing opportunities for communities across the state and creating a more prosperous future.”
However, Illinois officials say legalization of marijuana in adjacent states like Missouri, led to fewer people traveling across it's borders to buy pot but Illinois residents more than made up for that, with Illinois residents purchasing over $1.2 billion alone.
Currently, there are 177 marijuana dispensaries in Illinois, including 67 social equity dispensaries that have opened their doors.
133 applicants selected in the 2022 social equity lotteries are still in the process of receiving their full dispensary licenses from IDFPR, as are 55 applicants selected in the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (“SECL”) in July 2023.