Marijuana shops sold more than $19.7 million in recreational weed the first 12 days of sales in Illinois.
The state said consumers made more than 495,000 purchases during that time.
Sales figures were highest on the first day, Jan. 1, at almost $3.2 million, and dropped off steadily in the following days.
Friday, Jan. 10, and Saturday, Jan. 11, each brought in more than $1.6 million in sales. But sales were roughly half of that on Sunday, Jan. 12, when some marijuana shops were closed.
The first day of sales was one of the strongest in the history of legal weed, and the superlatives continued.
Illinois’ first week of recreational sales, which saw nearly $12.9 million in purchases, topped some other states. Oregon sold $11 million worth of legal weed in the first week, said Bethany Gomez, managing director of cannabis research firm Brightfield Group. Colorado stores did $5 million their first week.
“$19 million in less than two weeks is really strong, especially given all the challenges that Illinois faces in terms of supply shortages,” Gomez said. “It is a really strong indication that the market is going to be very, very healthy here.”
Dispensaries are battling long-expected product shortages, and many stores have had to halt recreational sales at times. When sales are underway, products are limited, especially the dried marijuana flower that consumers smoke.
Illinois regulators warned dispensary operators in an email Friday that they are required by law to keep enough product on hand for medical patients.
Despite the shortages, long lines have continued to form at dispensaries. At around noon on Saturday, a customer at the front of the line at MedMen dispensary in Evanston said he had been waiting about two hours.
Recreational sales at Thrive dispensaries in Anna and Harrisburg have been off and on over the past week. Principal officer Gorgi Naumovski said the shops have used social media and text alerts to keep potential customers updated on what products are available, or if recreational sales are on.
Still, customers show up, even if what they want isn’t available, Naumovski said.
“If you look at all the sales and you’re thinking, this is great, this is great, imagine if we had flower,” he said. “People are happy to get what they can get.”
The state said tax revenue figures are expected by the end of February.
Twitter @AllyMarotti
![A recent study that found dangerously mislabeled contents of unlicensed hemp products in Illinois, like Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC, is prompting a renewed call for regulation. The study by a University of Illinois Chicago researcher, found that such products “pose a clear danger” and a “huge risk” to consumers. “Without regulations being put in place and then fully enforced, this danger will continue, and more people will be harmed,” wrote former university researcher Jennifer Bash. In response, Ald. Brian Hopkins called for legislation to ban or regulate such products. “This is a completely unregulated, Wild West environment,” he said. The […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CTC-hemp-farm08_176428205.jpg?w=525 "A recent study that found dangerously mislabeled contents of unlicensed hemp products in Illinois, like Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC, is prompting a renewed call for regulation. The study by a University of Illinois Chicago researcher, found that such products “pose a clear danger” and a “huge risk” to consumers. “Without regulations being put in place and then fully enforced, this danger will continue, and more people will be harmed,” wrote former university researcher Jennifer Bash. In response, Ald. Brian Hopkins called for legislation to ban or regulate such products. “This is a completely unregulated, Wild West environment,” he said. The […]")
![Michelle and Rick Ringold have built a successful partnership–both in marriage and in cannabis. Rick is a U.S. Army veteran and construction contractor. His wife, Michelle, runs an accounting firm. It took all their business know-how and a roughly $10 million investment to win a state license and launch Galaxy Labs LLC, a craft cannabis growing business. But they wanted to be able to both grow and sell their own products. So they negotiated the purchase of a cannabis retail license. Galaxy Dispensary opened Thursday in a strip mall in Richton Park, celebrating with a live DJ, food, and a […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ctc-l-galaxy-CT0134242068.jpg?w=526 "Michelle and Rick Ringold have built a successful partnership–both in marriage and in cannabis. Rick is a U.S. Army veteran and construction contractor. His wife, Michelle, runs an accounting firm. It took all their business know-how and a roughly $10 million investment to win a state license and launch Galaxy Labs LLC, a craft cannabis growing business. But they wanted to be able to both grow and sell their own products. So they negotiated the purchase of a cannabis retail license. Galaxy Dispensary opened Thursday in a strip mall in Richton Park, celebrating with a live DJ, food, and a […]")