History Made: First Legal Cannabis Sales Complete as Dispensaries Open in Illinois
The first dispensaries opened at 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day with hundreds gathered in both Chicago and its suburbs for the history-making first sales
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Jackie Ryan was the first person to make a purchase as doors opened at the Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary on Chicago’s North Side.
People lined up for hours at the start of 2020 to be among the first to purchase cannabis from dispensaries in Illinois as recreational marijuana was officially legalized in the new year.
People lined up for hours at the start of 2020 to be among the first to purchase cannabis from dispensaries in Illinois as recreational marijuana was officially legalized in the new year.
The first dispensaries opened at 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day with hundreds gathered in both Chicago and its suburbs for the history-making first sales. Some people waited more than six hours to get inside.
Illinois
officially became the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis.
Jackie Ryan was the first person to make a purchase as doors opened at the Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary on Chicago's North Side.
“It
felt surreal,” said Ryan. “It was a little crazy like I’m walking to the
counter and there’s cameras everywhere and it’s showing me I’m buying weed, I’m
buying legal cannabis. This is just unbelievable.”
Ryan said she bought $120 worth of goods, including edibles.
Arnold Winslow made the first purchase in Elmwood Park at Sunnyside dispensary, walking for nearly two hours to get in line.
"I wanted to be first in line because I have waited 46 years for this moment," he said.
Winslow said he hopes to frame the gram of weed he purchased to "have a momento."
A Weed Maps truck sits near the Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary as recreational marijuana sales begin in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
People wait in line to purchase recreational marijuana outside the Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
First costumer Jackie Ryan makes a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary on January 1, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. – On the first day of 2020, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois, which joins 10 other US states with legal use of recreational marijuana. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
An employee holds bottles of recreational marijuana as she talks with a customer at Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
An employee secures a bag of recreational marijuana products following the first purchase at Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A sign stands near the counter ahead of the first recreational marijuana sales inside Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
An employee retrieves recreational marijuana products from a secure cabinet at the Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Customers wait in line outside Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary to purchase recreational marijuana on January 1, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. – On the first day of 2020, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois, which joins 10 other US states with legal use of recreational marijuana. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
People wait in line to purchase recreational marijuana outside the Cresco Labs Sunnyside* Lakeview dispensary in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Illinois’ legalization of recreational pot is likely to be the industry’s “most significant fundamental catalyst” in 2020 and Cresco Labs Inc. and Green Thumb Industries Inc. will benefit the most, according to investment firm Compass Point. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Customer Elise Swopes makes a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary on January 1, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. – On the first day of 2020, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois, which joins 10 other US states with legal use of recreational marijuana. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Juliana Stratton smiles after making a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary on January 1, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. – On the first day of 2020, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois, which joins 10 other US states with legal use of recreational marijuana. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Some dispensaries used paging systems similar to restaurants, others partnered with local restaurants to offer a warm place to wait before making a purchase. In Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, a coffee pop-up sprouted outside with a movie marathon and cannabis-themed trivia.
"We waited so long for this. Folks have been out here in the cold waiting and we are just so thrilled. Super excited," said Mary Cluxton, regional director for retail at Sunnyside.
At EarthMed Dispensary in Chicago, which claims it has been the "busiest independent dispensary in the state," the first 100 customers also received a commemorative T-shirt with their purchase.
“We take pride in making sure our medical cannabis patients enjoy a great customer experience, and we are ready to expand and do the same for recreational customers,” said Gus Koukoutsakis, EarthMed founder and co-owner. “We’ve been preparing for this expansion and today we are not only ready to open for an additional customer base, but we are ready to celebrate.”
City leaders touted the day as historic.
“Chicago is very excited about the opportunities legalized cannabis will create for residents here in our city and across our entire state," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. "Over the past seven months, we have worked tirelessly with community stakeholders, business groups and state leaders to ensure this new industry will not only be operated safely and responsibly, but also to help drive economic growth and jobs in our neighborhoods, particularly those that have borne the brunt of the War on Drugs. Together, we will place Chicago and Illinois at the forefront of leveraging the cannabis industry to expand social equity, and create a legalization model the rest of the nation can follow."
The Herbal Care Center at 1301 S. Western Ave. posted a notice to its website Wednesday saying it was "unable to sell flower to recreational users at this time." The facility was still selling edible products to recreational users, however.
Purchases are restricted to anyone 21 and older with a government-issued ID. Non-Illinois residents won’t be able to buy as much as residents and all purchases must be made in cash.
"We have crowd control from our local police as well as our internal security team," Cluxton said. "We were here late last night preparing. We had a holding room to keep people warm and comfortable. Just making sure that everyone is having the best experience they can."
