Illinois cannabis sales in 2022 set records in every category the state tracks, includes sales totals to Illinois and out-of-state residents, number of items sold and sales total by months, according to a release from Governor JB Pritzker’s office.
For the year, Illinois adult use cannabis retailers sold more than $1.55 billion worth of product, an increase of more than 12% from 2021 and 131% from 2020, the first year recreational cannabis sales were allowed in Illinois. There are currently 113 adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Illinois, including the first three social equity dispensaries, which opened their doors in 2022.
The figures do not include taxes collected, which are reported by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
“Not only did we break our previous sales record by more than 12% with a total of more than $1.5 billion, we also saw the first of our social equity adult-use cannabis dispensaries open their doors for business — paving the way for an even stronger 2023,” Pritzker said in a press release.
Statistics compiled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation show 2021’s sales totals were all exceeded in November 2022. In total, 36,435,129 items were sold in Illinois adult-use cannabis dispensaries in 2022, an increase of 20% from 2021. In addition, Illinois resident sales totaled $1,073,132,436.48 (an increase of almost 14% from 2021), while sales to out-of-state residents totaled $479,192,383.91 (an increase of almost 10% from 2021).
“This marks the second straight year that Illinois’ adult use cannabis industry has seen record-setting growth, and we are excited for what the future holds for the most equitable cannabis industry in the country,” said IDFPR secretary Mario Treto Jr. “We are optimistic the industry will only continue to flourish in 2023, as we welcome more dispensaries to Illinois.”
In addition to three social equity retailers that opened their doors in 2022, 189 other conditional licensees are in the process of receiving their full dispensary licenses from the IDFPR. Dispensaries may begin adult-use cannabis sales once they receive their full license from IDFPR. The department also announced in December 2022 that applications for the next round of cannabis dispensary licenses will be accepted starting January 30, 2023.
— Brian Beckley
Chicago at Night