Marijuana

Nicholas Hohns shows off a tray of strawberry-lemon CBD gummies at his Deutermann Farms kitchen in Clayton, N.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

A $28B hemp THC industry is fighting to save itself from a looming federal ban

By Gene Johnson

October 3, 2026 at 5:15 p.m.

The ban “threatens to reduce retail revenues by $28.3 billion, displacing 225,000 jobs and reducing...

A pedestrian crosses East Ontario Street at North Fairbanks Court in Chicago in 2018. The building at left contains 620 N. Fairbanks Ct., where cannabis store Guaranteed Dispensary opened late in 2025. (Jośe M. Osorio/baiduhai)

Judge upholds permit for controversial cannabis shop in Streeterville

By Robert McCoppin

September 10, 2026 at 4:20 p.m.

A judge upheld Chicago's permit for a controversial cannabis store in Streeterville, despite new evidence...

A Chicago resident shows a marijuana plant growing outdoors at her home garden on Aug. 19, 2026. The resident, who has a medical cannabis card, is currently growing four plants in her backyard to cultivate for personal use. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Illinois regulators propose allowing licensed cannabis producers to grow outdoors

By Robert McCoppin

August 20, 2026 at 6:10 p.m.

In a major reversal, Illinois regulators have proposed letting cannabis companies grow cannabis outdoors.

Beachgrass Events owner Jeff Remijas, left, looks on as Cameron Allen shows the features of his PAC Memories photo booth at the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan, on Aug. 27, 2022.

Midwest marijuana: Of the 2 local states where recreational weed is legal, Michigan outpaces Illinois in many areas

By Robert McCoppin

September 19, 2022 at 5:00 a.m.

"Pure Michigan" may evoke visions of beaches and cherry pie to some, but for cannabis...

Marijuana for sale at the "Freedom Festival" marijuana expo, April 20, 2022, in Bensenville.

Illinois pot dispensary licensees want OK to sell ownership shares. Some say they can’t open doors without more capital.

By Robert McCoppin

August 26, 2022 at 12:51 p.m.

Caught in a Catch-22, recreational marijuana dispensary license holders are asking Illinois to change its...

Rapper Vic Mensa, shown in his Chicago studio on Aug. 12, 2022, said selling weed was his "first hustle," and helped fund his start in music. He criticized the state licensing process.

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa launches Black-owned cannabis brand amid struggle by most Illinois craft growers to get started

By Robert McCoppin

August 17, 2022 at 11:58 a.m.

Chicago rapper and activist Vic Mensa applied for — but so far has been denied...

Travellers walk with luggage on the concourse inside a much quieter than normal Waterloo railway station, in London, during a strike held by railway workers, Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Vibrators, marijuana, plants: What can you take on a plane?

By The New York Times

August 10, 2022 at 3:00 a.m.

Elyse Welles was traveling from Athens, Greece, to Newark, New Jersey, this past spring when...

Customers in the Cresco Labs' flagship Sunnyside recreational marijuana store, a block south of Wrigley Field, Nov. 15, 2021.

Marijuana sales and tax revenues in Illinois jumped 50% in the past year

By Robert McCoppin

July 26, 2022 at 11:54 a.m.

Recreational marijuana sales and tax revenue due in Illinois both shot up 50% in the...

Chicago Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, has a proposed an ordinance to prevent CBD shops, like the Smokepost CBD dispensary behind him, from advertising themselves as dispensaries unless they are state-licensed cannabis dispensary.

Proposal would prohibit hemp CBD shops in Chicago from calling themselves ‘dispensaries’

By Robert McCoppin

July 25, 2022 at 3:43 p.m.

A proposed ordinance would prohibit CBD shops in Chicago from advertising themselves as "dispensaries," in...

An employee counts cash for a marijuana sale at a dispensary in Mundelein on Jan. 1, 2020. It was the first day for recreational marijuana sales in Illinois.

Illinois issues 149 new recreational marijuana dispensary licenses in move to advance diversity in the industry

By Robert McCoppin

July 25, 2022 at 11:41 a.m.

Illinois issued 149 new recreational marijuana dispensary licenses Friday, marking a long-awaited advancement in the...

Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association founder Scott Redman talks during the group's first in-person meeting, on Oct. 6, 2021, at Dorian's in Wicker Park in Chicago.

Illinois craft marijuana growers can get back to work after judge lifts order that put industry on hold

By Robert McCoppin

June 15, 2022 at 3:57 p.m.

Craft cannabis growers in Illinois may resume preparing to open for business after a judge...

Flowering cannabis plants are illuminated by artificial lighting at a tour called "Chitiva," given by workers at Prescribd, a cannabis cultivation company, at one of its cultivation centers on July 17, 2021, in Bridgeview.

Craft cannabis growers want judge to reverse order that has put the industry on hold in Illinois amid lawsuit

By Robert McCoppin

June 14, 2022 at 7:11 p.m.

Craft cannabis growers hope that a judge Wednesday will reverse his order that shut down...

Marijuana for sale at the "Freedom Festival" marijuana expo on April 20, 2022, in Bensenville.

Illinois set to more than double number of marijuana shops after getting court clearance

By Robert McCoppin

June 10, 2022 at 7:04 p.m.

The number of recreational marijuana shops in Illinois is due to more than double after...