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.

Workers pre-roll flower products in the packaging room of 1937 Group, a cultivation cannabis manufacturing facility, in Broadview on Jan. 10, 2024. A recent Illinois Department of Agriculture rule change will allow craft growers to expand from 5,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet.

Rule change allows craft cannabis growers in Illinois to expand more quickly, but it may not be enough to save many of them

By Robert McCoppin

January 13, 2024 at 11:40 a.m.

A long-awaited change to allow craft cannabis growers to expand should bring consumers more choice,...

A strain of cannabis called GMO Sherbs grows under lights inside of the veg-mom room at Cannect Wellness, Nov. 3, 2023, in Franklin Park.

Illinois sets another record for recreational cannabis sales in 2023, but purchases by out-of-staters decline

By Robert McCoppin

January 11, 2024 at 5:39 p.m.

Illinois set another record for recreational cannabis sales in 2023, with more than $1.6 billion...

Giant mushrooms remain behind a fence at the former Rainforest Cafe in River North on Oct. 1, 2023.

Cannabis companies drop controversial plan for weed shop at site of former Rainforest Cafe

By Robert McCoppin

January 2, 2024 at 8:05 p.m.

A clouted cannabis partnership has dropped its controversial plan to open a store at the...

This is one example of a Delta-8 THC product that can be purchased a stores. Unlike the THC from cannabis plants, Delta-8 and Delta-9 are manufactured chemicals that are not regulated by the government and are said to be dangerous by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Highland Park considering ban on sale of synthetic THC products: ‘They’re not regulated at all … We feel that is problematic’

By Chloe Hilles

December 20, 2023 at 9:26 a.m.

The Highland Park City Council is considering a citywide ban on the sale of synthetic...

State Sen. Heather Steans, from left, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Sen. Toi Hutchinson and Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth celebrate on May 31, 2019, at the Capitol in Springfield after the Illinois House approved a bill to legalize recreational marijuana.

‘Marijuana Moms’ take on prosecutor ‘Dad’ in controversy over mental health effects of cannabis

By Robert McCoppin

November 25, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

A clash between the Marijuana Moms and a Dad for Mental Health is highlighting an...

Lawsuit alleges plan to open a marijuana store in former Rainforest Cafe is illegal

By Robert McCoppin

November 7, 2023 at 1:32 p.m.

A well-connected River North cannabis dispensary has filed suit to try to keep a competitor...

Mike Le, left, and David Michaud at craft grower Cannect Wellness on Nov. 3, 2023, in Franklin Park. The room contains equipment to extract cannabis oil.

Craft cannabis growers in Illinois try again to overcome industry opposition to expansion

By Robert McCoppin

November 7, 2023 at 4:18 p.m.

The day before Illinois' spring legislative session ended, lawmakers were poised to pass a wide-ranging...

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

Marijuana-related car crashes, preterm births, and accidental ingestion by kids on rise since legalization in Illinois, study shows

By Robert McCoppin

October 21, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Marijuana legalization in Illinois has come with increased pot-involved deadly crashes, a rise in accidental...

The former Rainforest Cafe in River North on Oct. 1, 2023.

Marijuana dispensary in former Rainforest Cafe won flip-flop from state regulators, but remains on hold as one man fights against it

By Robert McCoppin

October 3, 2023 at 8:18 a.m.

The former Rainforest Cafe in Chicago once featured a costumed frog named Cha Cha selling...

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon signs a T-shirt for Jojo Plascencia, 25, of Evergreen Park, during a visit Thursday at Stash Dispensary in Orland Hills.

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon visits Orland Hills dispensary to launch Mac 9 cannabis strain

By Alexandra Kukulka

September 29, 2023 at 6:18 a.m.

Wearing dark sunglasses and a brand T-shirt, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon met with...