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.

‘Multiple’ marijuana dispensaries said to be interested in Park Ridge as City Council considers zoning changes to allow them

By Jennifer Johnson

January 13, 2021 at 4:34 p.m.

The Park Ridge City Council will soon be considering zoning changes that would allow recreational...

A cannabis dispensary customer, right, smells a marijuana sample from a budtender at CannaDaddy's Wellness Center marijuana dispensary in Portland, Ore.

Oregon marijuana sales soared in 2020, topping $1 billion

By Associated Press

January 8, 2021 at 11:20 a.m.

Oregon recreational-cannabis sales soared in 2020, peaking during a challenging summer of racial justice protests...

State Rep. La Shawn Ford wears 2020 census gear at a Sunrise Ride for Justice bike ride at Columbus Park on Sept. 27, 2020.

Illinois lawmakers seek to add 75 new cannabis licenses in move to allow more minority ownership in lucrative pot industry

By Robert McCoppin

January 8, 2021 at 11:21 a.m.

Illinois lawmakers plan to create 75 new cannabis store licenses to give poor and minority...

Cannabis stocks fly higher after Georgia election

By Tim Balk

January 8, 2021 at 11:21 a.m.

They went higher. Cannabis stocks surged on Wednesday after runoff Senate elections in Georgia appeared...

Although New Jersey voters in November chose to legalize marijuana, back-and-forth negotiations continue over penalties for underage marijuana use or possession.

New Year’s Day should have been the start of NJ legal weed. Instead, it’s stuck in limbo.

By Asbury Park Press

January 6, 2021 at 10:40 a.m.

When the clock struck midnight, New Jersey should have become the 13th state to legalize...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling for the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use by adults, his third attempt in as many years to get the drug fully legalized in the state.

Cuomo calls for legalizing marijuana for adult use, details mobile sports betting in New York

By Denis Slattery

January 6, 2021 at 5:23 p.m.

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo is again supporting the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by...

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow in December 2016.

Illinois county officials begin clearing low-level marijuana possession cases from court records

By Alicia Fabbre

January 5, 2021 at 4:22 p.m.

More than 1,600 people with low-level cannabis possession cases in Will County will have those...

Cresco Labs employee Nicholas Stankus counts out cash received for a medical cannabis sale on Dec. 30, 2019.

Illinois hits $1 billion in weed sales for 2020 with another record set in December

By Robert Channick

January 6, 2021 at 10:39 a.m.

Illinois marijuana sales crossed the $1 billion mark in 2020 after hitting a new monthly...

A Madison, Wisc., resident smokes marijuana from a bong in a downtown apartment on March 31, 2019.

North of the border, Wisconsin cops are monitoring the impact of legal recreational marijuana in Illinois

By Associated Press

January 2, 2021 at 9:16 a.m.

Despite dispensaries quickly popping up along Illinois' northern border after that state legalized recreational marijuana...

Marijuana plants grow under lights at Cresco Labs medical marijuana cultivation facility Aug. 8, 2018, in Joliet, Ill.

Illinois expunges nearly half a million cannabis cases as part of legalization

By Robert McCoppin

January 4, 2021 at 11:13 a.m.

Ending a difficult year on a positive note, Gov. J.B. Pritzker Thursday announced the forgiveness...