Illinois Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Open Their Doors
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]M[/dropcap]onday, legal cannabis sales officially began in the state of Illinois. The program, designed to be a bit more stringent than other medically legal states, is still a sound victory for patients. According to a report, eight dispensaries have been authorized to open, serving 3,300 qualifying patients including children. The state has received more than 25,000 applications.
Bill Wilson watched his sister use cannabis to relieve her symptoms of multiple sclerosis; now, he’s a medical cannabis patient himself. “This is going to be a godsend,” Wilson told the Chicago Tribune, holding vials of cannabis. “I really believe that.” Wilson purchased his first prescription of legal cannabis at EarthMed in Addison, Illinois.
A crowd of 100+ gathered at The Clinic in Mundelein, Illinois. “This is a historic day in the state of Illinois,” said Ben Kovler, CEO of Green Thumb Industries and owner The Clinic. “What we’ve gone through [to open] is nothing compared to what the patients have gone through.”
Illinois’ medical cannabis program has some peculiarities. For instance, patients are required to submit not only fingerprints, but a criminal background check. Zoning laws have also forced dispensaries to open somewhat secretively in industrial areas. The program expected 100,000 patients, but only 3,300 had signed up in time for day one of cannabis sales.
Edwin Schlesser, another patient at the Clinic, takes cannabis for a spinal condition. “My doctor was actually proud of me for never taking the pain pills,” said Schlesser. “This is God’s natural gift to us right here. It was a long process [to acquire it], but it’s a great day.”
A total of 18 grow houses are expected to receive authorization by the end of the year. The grow houses will operate for a test program which ends in late 2018.
