The Illinois medical cannabis market opened November 9, 2015. Since then — not even a full two months later — program participants have purchased almost $1.7 million worth of cannabis, The Chicago Tribune reports.
The sales numbers were announced Monday by program director Joseph Wright, who also revealed that Illinois growers had raked in close to $1.5 million and that the state has earned more than $100,000 in sales taxes.
According to the Associated Press, there were 20 dispensaries in operation statewide by the close of 2015. Since the program opened, nearly 3,000 unique patients have been served (which is technically only a fraction of the total number of registered medical marijuana patients in Illinois). Most patients were purchasing cannabis at $14-$15 per gram.
Illinois is one of 23 states that have adjusted state laws to allow for at least medical marijuana, though four states and Washington D.C. have also passed recreational legalization and many more have passed decriminalization laws. Many have argued that 2016 could become the tipping point for U.S. legalization, with experts predicting that up to ten states may consider ending the prohibition of cannabis this year.
Photo Credit: Roman Boed