Marijuana

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.

An attendee smokes cannabis during the first day of Lollapalooza in Chicago's Grant Park on July 29, 2021.

Read the ruling: Illinois Supreme Court rules smell of marijuana no longer enough for police to search vehicle

By baiduhai

September 19, 2024 at 1:23 p.m.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled 6-0 that without other suspicious circumstances, such as a driver...

Marijuana consumption near Chicago schools and parks could face stiffer penalties under a City Council proposal.

Smell of burnt cannabis alone no longer justifies a police search of a vehicle, Illinois Supreme Court rules

By Robert McCoppin

September 20, 2024 at 9:05 a.m.

“The laws on cannabis have changed in such a drastic way as to render the...

Jennifer McCormick addresses the audience during a town hall meeting hosted by Democratic gubernatorial candidate McCormick at the Lake County Library on Monday, April 29, 2024. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate McCormick releases plan to legalize cannabis

By Alexandra Kukulka

September 12, 2024 at 4:14 p.m.

Democratic candidate for governor Jennifer McCormick released a cannabis legalization plan on Thursday, which area...

A baseball field Sept. 6, 2024, on The 78, a 62-acre South Loop site where the Chicago White Sox also want to build a new stadium. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Cannabis Research Institute opens in Chicago, looking to dig deep into marijuana

By Robert McCoppin

September 9, 2024 at 2:56 p.m.

The institute, now in the Illinois Medical Center, is planned to eventually be a part...

Sheila Hogan tends to her garden in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago on Aug. 24, 2024. Cannabis gummies have helped relieve Hogan’s debilitating pain from spinal stenosis, allowing her to resume activities such as gardening. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)

With marijuana at a new level of scrutiny, here’s what the research says

By Robert McCoppin

September 3, 2024 at 10:29 a.m.

Pot brings lots of tax money into states like Illinois, but its societal impact continues...

GreenRose Dispensary has opened on Harlem Avenue in Harwood Heights. Located in a former bank building that has a drive-up window, the owners hope to become one of the first drive-thru dispensaries if Illinois changes its law to allow drive-thru sales. (GreenRose Dispensary)

Drive-thru cannabis? Dispensary opening in Harwood Heights hopes to be Illinois’ first

By Pioneer Press

August 16, 2024 at 3:36 p.m.

A cannabis dispensary which opened this week in Harwood Heights hopes to provide the first...

FILE – Marijuana plants display buds as they are in the flowering stage at the indoor growing facility of Mockingbird Cannabis in Raymond, Miss., Jan. 20, 2023. A federal proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug has raised the hopes of some pot backers that more states will embrace cannabis. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio can start Tuesday at nearly 100 locations

By Associated Press

August 5, 2024 at 3:23 p.m.

Recreational marijuana sales will begin across Ohio on Tuesday when the state issues its first...

The village of Franklin Park’s Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing Aug. 7, 2024 on a cannabis dispensary company’s request to more into the space where Lulu Belle’s restaurant currently is, at 3147 N. Mannheim Road in Franklin Park.

Cannect Wellness looking to replace Lulu Belle’s pancake house with a cannabis dispensary in Franklin Park. Public hearing set.

By Jessi Virtusio

August 2, 2024 at 3:59 p.m.

A public hearing is scheduled for the coming days in Franklin Park for the public...

Majority Black-owned Ivy Hall Dispensary is the state’s first operating social equity cannabis dispensary, seen Nov. 14, 2022. (Antonio Perez/ baiduhai)

Illinois touts diversity in pot industry, but revenue for minorities shows little growth

By Robert McCoppin

July 15, 2024 at 11:02 a.m.

Some new license holders, though, say that funding assistance is needed for them to allow...

SWAY Adult-Use Recreational Cannabis Dispensary, the first queer- and BIPOC-owned cannabis company in Illinois, is in the former Town Hall Pub in the Lakeview neighborhood. The new dispensary is a collaboration between cannabis equity advocate Edie Moore, center, and LGBTQ civil rights and local business leaders José “Pepe” Peña, left, and Art Johnston, as seen on April 12, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Black- and gay-owned cannabis businesses opening and expanding in Illinois

By Robert McCoppin

July 2, 2024 at 11:28 a.m.

After years of struggling to get off the ground, several cannabis operators have bucked the...