SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois prepares to debut legal adult use of cannabis on Jan. 1, 2020, the industry’s major advocacy voice is rolling out a new public awareness campaign toolkit with a clear message: Be Responsible.
 
The Cannabis Business Association of Illinois (CBAI), or CannaBiz Illinois, represents Illinois’ cultivation centers and dispensaries that have served thousands of medical cannabis patients for the past several years, and will be growing and selling cannabis products for the general public when adult use becomes legal in 2020.
 
CBAI has developed a multi-part educational campaign helping those interested in being among the first to legally use cannabis under Illinois’ new law to understand what’s allowed and what isn’t, and how to possess and consume cannabis responsibly.
 
At its new website -- http://www.cbail.org/legalization/ -- the organization has developed a series of “how-tos” for prospective users:
 

• Social Equity and Expungement – the types of criminal offenses involving cannabis that will be cleared off people’s records under the new law, and how that process and timing will work

• Possessing and Consuming – who can legally purchase cannabis as of Jan. 1, how much you can possess (different limits for Illinoisans and non-residents), where you can find dispensaries for purchasing cannabis and how your cannabis can legally be transported

• Cannabis Licensing 101 – who is licensed to grow and sell recreational and medical cannabis in Illinois now and in the coming months and years as the law develops

• FAQ – where cannabis possession is prohibited in Illinois under the new law

 
CBAI’s “Be Responsible” materials also are being distributed around the state to its member dispensaries, who are being encouraged to place them on their own websites and provide them for patients and customers in their facilities. Additional educational materials are in development.
 
“Our members are working around the clock to ensure we can provide a high-quality experience with top-notch products to the many adults we expect will be eager for adult cannabis use in Illinois on Jan. 1,” said Pamela Althoff, executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois.
 
“It’s an exciting time, but also one we take on with great care. We hope these materials and messages will help users better understand the new law and their legal responsibilities. We urge anyone planning to use cannabis here to take a few minutes to learn what’s allowed and what isn’t, and to always Be Responsible.”

To help patrons understand the new adult use law and what to expect on Jan. 1, 2020, CBAI offers this Q&A and online resources.
 
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT ON JAN. 1?
Our members are just as excited as customers about what adult use of cannabis will mean for Illinois. We are making history. But understand Jan. 1 is just the beginning, and we are urging everyone to brace for a soft rollout of adult use.
 
On that day, existing medical marijuana licensees will be selling extra product to the public. Not all products are fully developed yet, as we explain below. Not all dispensaries are online to sell, facing local licensing and zoning issues. Not everyone who wants to sell will be able to yet, and not everyone who wants to grow cannabis plants to create high-quality products are growing yet.
 
Be patient. Over time, cannabis sales will be smooth and robust, just like medical patients have seen for years.
 
WHERE CAN I BUY IT?
These dispensaries have been approved for adult use licenses by state regulators. But not all of these will be selling on Jan. 1, and in some locations, only registered medical patients will be served. We urge you to contact your local dispensary ahead of Jan. 1 to ask about their plans:

• The Clinic Mundelein, 1325 Armour Blvd., Mundelein, IL 60060: (847) 616-8966

• 3C Compassionate Care Center in Joliet, 1627 Rock Creek Blvd., Joliet, IL 60431: (815) 773-9300

• 3C Compassionate Care Center in Naperville, 1700 Quincy Ave. #103, Naperville, IL 60540: (630) 369-4000

• The Clinic Effingham, 1101 Ford Ave., Ste. C, Effingham, IL 62401

• Salveo Health & Wellness Dispensary in Canton, 3104 N. Main Street, Canton, Illinois 61520: (309) 647-9333

• Phoenix Botanical Dispensary in Champaign, 1704 S Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820: (217) 441-2076

• MedMar in Rockford, 2696 McFarland Rd, Rockford, IL 61107: (815) 314-1900

• MedMar in Chicago, 3812 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60613: (773) 698-8182

• PDI Medical Dispensary in Buffalo Grove, 1623 Barclay Blvd, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089: (224) 377-9734

• FloraMedex in Elmwood Park, 7955 W. Grand Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707: (708) 452-7688

• Mapleglen Care Center in Rockford, 4777 Stenstrom Rd., Rockford, IL 61109: (779) 368-5154

• Dispensary33 in Chicago, 5001 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640: (312) 620-3333

• Maribis of Springfield, 2272 North Grand Ave., East Grandview, IL 62702: (217) 503-4296

• Maribis of Chicago, 4570 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60632: (888) 888-5501

• Verilife in North Aurora, 161 S. Lincolnway Ste 301, North Aurora, IL 60542: (630) 264-0890

• Verilife in Arlington Heights, 1816 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005: (847) 755-2992

• Verilife in Ottawa, 4104 Columbus St., Ottawa, IL 61350: (815) 234-9189

• Verilife in Romeoville, 1335 Lakeside Dr. Unit 4, Romeoville, IL 60446: (630) 359-3213

• Verilife in Evanston, 1804 Maple Ave., Evanston, IL 60201: (847) 424-0140

• MOCA Modern Cannabis in Chicago, 2847 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60647: (773) 722-6622

• New Age Care in Mt. Prospect, 2015 E. Euclid Ave., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056: (224) 801-2015

• Harbory in Marion, 8195 Express Dr., Marion, IL 62959: (618) 969-8217

• Columbia Care in Chicago, 4758 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60630: (312) 948-9082

• HCI Alternatives in Collinsville, 1014 Eastport Plaza Dr., Collinsville, IL 62234: (618) 381-9229

• HCI Alternatives in Springfield, 628 E. Adams St., Springfield, IL 62701: (217) 679-3283

• Mission Illinois in Chicago, 8554 S. Commercial Ave., Chicago, IL 60617: (833) 768-4357

• Nature’s Treatment in Milan, 973 Tech Dr., Milan, IL 61264: (309) 283-1642

• Herbal Remedies Dispensary in Quincy, 44440 Broadway St. Ste. 1, Quincy, IL 62305: (217) 214-6337

• EarthMed in Addison, 852 S. Westgate St., Addison, IL 60101: (630) 607-0796

• The Herbal Care Center in Chicago, 1301 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608: (773) 724-4200

WHEN CAN I BUY IT?
There will be lines, but don’t expect visions of Black Friday with pre-sales the evening before or at midnight. Sales are restricted to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. by state law. Check with the dispensary you’re planning to visit for their open times on Jan. 1.
 
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I SHOW UP AT THE DISPENSARY JAN. 1?
Think of this like the grown-in-the-ground new IPhone: there will be great anticipation and many people trying to be among the first to get their hands on legal cannabis here. We foresee long lines, limited inventory and significant wait times. If you’re going early, be prepared and patient.
 
WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS WILL BE AVAILABLE?
Dispensaries offer a full range of products to meet customers’ needs: flower, concentrates, and infused products such as oils and edibles. We expect the most shortages initially in flower, and you should have more options in oils, concentrates and infused products.
 
WHAT DO I DO IF THE STORE DOESN’T HAVE WHAT I WANT, OR RUNS OUT ENTIRELY?
Check with the store to see if they have online inventory systems. Medical dispensaries that have been issues adult use dispensing licenses are required by law to maintain what their patients need. CBAI’s members are committed to putting medical patients first, because access to life-saving medicines always has been and will continue to be our top priority.
 
HOW CAN I PROPERLY TRANSPORT WHAT I BUY?
The law requires cannabis to be transported in a sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant container, and it is a Class A misdemeanor to transport it any other way. You cannot use cannabis in a motor vehicle or any public place.
 
WHERE CAN I USE IT ONCE I LEAVE THE STORE?
As you might expect, your right to use cannabis legally for the first time comes with restrictions and responsibilities. You cannot use cannabis in your vehicle or in any public place. You cannot have it locations such as schools, correctional facilities and federal property, such as an airport security line. You cannot use it with someone under the age of 21 nearby. And if you do use it, you must follow the laws regarding responsible quantities – you can be charged with DUI for cannabis use.
 
CAN I TAKE IT ACROSS STATE LINES?
No. Cannabis is still illegal federally, and you are committing a federal crime if you take it across state lines.
 
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WILL CHANGE ABOUT BUYING CANNABIS FROM DAY ONE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?
The first day will be filled with excitement, but it will feature some bumps and difficulties. Those will get smoothed out over time as supply increases to meet demand. Remember, this is a plant that takes time to grow and cultivate properly to ensure high-quality products.
 
In the coming months, more cultivation centers will have more square footage devoted to growing. More dispensaries will open. More will offer a wider variety of products. And we hope more people will see purchasing cannabis as normal, much like it happens today with our medical patients.
 
Please Be Responsible on Jan. 1 and thereafter with your legal cannabis use. We will continue to provide education and assistance to help you understand the law and what our members are doing to make this the most successful cannabis state in the nation.