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In fiscal year 2022, cannabis sales in Illinois topped $1.5
billion, generating over $445 million in state tax revenue. As
of June this year, Illinois was the third largest cannabis
market in the country, trailing only California and Michigan.
Those who partake in recreational marijuana in the Land of
Lincoln can attest that it is not cheap. A report by the website
Headset found that Illinoisans are paying about 90% more for the
average cannabis item than the rest of the country.
"Illinois’ average item price is 46% higher at $33.82 than the
second highest Massachusetts and has a 36% higher price per gram
ahead of Nevada," the report found.
During a recent University of Illinois-Extension webinar, David
Lakeman, division manager at the Illinois Department of
Agriculture’s Division of Cannabis Regulation, said legalized
marijuana is putting people to work.
“There are roughly 30,000 total jobs in Illinois currently being
generated by this industry,” said Lakeman.
Lakeman said anytime someone would inquire about where a person
received training to work in the cannabis industry, almost every
time another state like Washington or Colorado would be
mentioned, but Illinois’ Community College Cannabis Vocational
Training Pilot Program will change the landscape.
“Working to develop the next generation of cannabis leaders
across the entire space in terms of the biology, the business,
the management,” said Lakeman.
The taxes from recreational cannabis sales in Illinois are split
several ways. More than a third goes to the state’s general
revenue fund. Ten percent goes to unpaid bills. Eight percent
goes to law enforcement and 2% goes to public safety campaigns.
Nearly a quarter of every cannabis tax dollar goes to community
groups through the Restore, Reinvest and Renew Program.
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