Illinois legalized cannabis back in 2020, and while it has worked to establish a hearty market in the years since, the state continues to make leaps forward as the broader industry presses forward.
Namely, Clark County recently saw the opening of its first permanent dispensary through multistate operator MariMed.
The store, Thrive Casey, opened earlier this month at 912 N. State Highway 49 in Casey. It’s home to approximately 2,400 residents and well known for its many eclectic, larger-than-life tourist attractions—literally. The city is home to 12 Guinness World Record-holding attractions.
There, you’ll find the world’s largest mailbox, the world’s largest rocking chair, the world’s largest wind chime, the world’s largest pitchfork and the world’s largest golf tee, among other “big things” scattered throughout the city.
The First Dispensary in Clark County, Illinois
According to a news release announcing the store’s official opening, Thrive Casey is also located just 30 miles from the Indiana border, and the neighboring state has yet to legalize cannabis. So it’s likely that, on top of the regular tourism Casey already sees, the store will see high patronage from those living in and visiting from the nearby state.
The shop had previously operated from a separate, temporary location since opening last October, now enjoying a permanent home off State Highway 49.
Thrive Casey marks the fifth company store in the state. MariMed will continue to manage the dispensary under a Managed Services Agreement until the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation approves a license transfer. The company also plans to continue scouting out potential locations in Illinois for future retail locations, as Illinois’ cannabis revenue continues to balloon.
A Growing Cannabis Market in Illinois
Last year, the state saw record-breaking cannabis sales exceeding $1.6 billion. It marked the third consecutive year that Illinois set annual records for cannabis sales. Additionally, December 2023 set a new record for most sales in a one-month period with almost $154 million in sales—$10 million more than the previous record set in December 2022.
“From day one, my administration has put equity first to build the most accessible cannabis industry in the nation,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in reference to the growing market. “Our work will continue to repair past harm while providing opportunities for communities across the state and creating a more prosperous future.”
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Secretary Mario Treto Jr. cited the recent data, calling the continued growth “encouraging progress that is a testament to the hard work by the Pritzker Administration, lawmakers, and stakeholders.” He also emphasized that cannabis is increasingly accessible in the Prairie State, regardless of identity or where in Illinois consumers reside.
“I’m proud of the simplified application process we’ve created to ensure an inclusive cannabis industry and look forward to welcoming even more professionals to the most equitable industry in the country,” the secretary said.
As of the end of 2023, Illinois had the third-largest cannabis market in the U.S., after Michigan and California.
MariMed Establishes its Illinois Foundation
In Illinois, a license holder can operate up to 10 dispensaries, so MariMed still has the potential to double its scope in the state with respect to total retail locations. According to the release, the company also recently became vertical in Illinois and recently opened a craft grow and processing facility in Mt. Vernon in December.
MariMed also distributes most of its products at Thrive dispensaries and through the wholesale channel throughout Illinois. Some of MariMed’s products and brands include Betty’s Eddies, Nature’s Heritage, InHouse, Bubby’s Baked, K Fusion, Kalm Fusion, and Vibations.
At least figuratively, Thrive Casey now joins a number of the city’s “big things” as Casey adds cannabis to one of its many markets and attractions.
