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Here’s how much Illinois and Michigan have made in marijuana sales recently

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Here’s how much Illinois and Michigan have made in marijuana sales recently


EVANSVILLE – Indiana is getting lonelier and lonelier.

Three of its direct neighbors have now legalized recreational marijuana. The latest one to fall was Ohio, where a -referendum to greenlight adult-use cannabis cruised to an easy victory during the Nov. 7 election.

The state previously only allowed medical.

Recreational sales for adults 21 and older are set to go live Dec. 7. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the millions in expected revenue will funnel to any local municipality with dispensaries, as well as toward a jobs program and substance abuse fund.

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Ohio will now join Michigan, which legalized recreational back in 2018, and Illinois, which did the same two years later. Kentucky, meanwhile, allows medical marijuana thanks to an executive order Gov. Andy Beshear issued in 2022.

Indiana isn’t close to doing any of that.

Repeated attempts to legalize marijuana in the state legislature have gone nowhere, and Gov. Eric Holcomb has refused to consider any kind of change as long as marijuana remains a Schedule I narcotic in the eyes of the federal government.

Most of the hopefuls looking to replace him in 2024 are just as rigid. When the Indy Star recently reached out to candidates about the issue, only two – Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater – said they were open to the idea.

And unlike Ohio and multiple other states that have legalized cannabis through the will of the voters, Indiana doesn’t allow ballot initiatives.

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That continuing prohibition causes Indiana to miss out on ever-growing piles of money. Both Michigan and Illinois compile sales figures for monthly reports. Here’s how much they’ve made recently.

Marijuana sales in Illinois

According to sales figures from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the state has been selling recreational marijuana at highly steady rates.

The high point came in July, when officials recorded more than $140 million in sales. Almost $36 million came from Indiana and other out-of-state residents.

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August and September brought $139 million each in total sales. The most recent data from October shows $138,751,456, with $33,754,890 coming from non-Illinoisians.

Marijuana sales in Michigan

Michigan did even better.

According to its monthly report for October, the state logged more than $258 million in adult-use sales and a little more than $4 million in medicinal.

The report doesn’t break the figures down by in-state and out-of-state like Illinois, but it likely gets business from both Indiana and another prohibition neighbor: Wisconsin.

According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, about half of the state’s over-21 population lives within a 75-minute drive to some legal weed destination. Dispensaries are inching closer to Indiana residents as well. Just this summer, the cannabis dispensary Terrabis marked its grand opening in Grayville, Illinois: less than an hour from Evansville.

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Efforts to ratify cannabis there have gone about as well as they have in Indiana.



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Illinois

'Tipsy' artist Shaboozey joins Illinois State Fair 2024 lineup

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'Tipsy' artist Shaboozey joins Illinois State Fair 2024 lineup


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) — Crossover country sensation Shaboozey has been added to the Illinois State Fair lineup.

The artist, with the hit single “Tipsy,” will take the stage Sunday, Aug. 18.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Shaboozey also contributed to Beyonce’s chart-topping album “Cowboy Carter.”

Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

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According to the fair’s website, tickets start at $20; a pre-show party can be added on for $30.

Others performing at the 2024 Illinois State Fair include Keith Urban, Jason Isbell, Lil Wayne, Jonas Brothers, The Smashing Pumpkins and Miranda Lambert.

The fair takes place from Aug. 8 to 18 at the state fairgrounds in Springfield.

Visit statefair.illinois.gov for more information.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Timeless Enters Illinois Cannabis Market

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Timeless Enters Illinois Cannabis Market


Timeless will launch in Illinois with six strains from its signature “Choose Your Mood” collection, “Energy” (Sativa), “Chill” (Hybrid), and “Rest” (Indica), as well as its NOIR Live Resin Terpenes and Timeless All-In-One vaporizers, all uniquely designed to suit the specific needs of each consumer. In addition, Timeless will debut an exclusive ‘Greetings From Illinois’ flip case and battery, a limited-edition combo featuring cultural references unique to Illinois. Team Timeless will be taking over retail partner locations throughout July to educate consumers on Timeless products, strains and their effects, as well as offering special promotions, doorbusters and food from local vendors.

“We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of our journey in the midwest in Illinois,” said Timeless Founder Rocky Huang. “Having previously launched in Missouri and Ohio, we know first-hand how incredible the midwestern cannabis market is and introducing our high-quality products to Illinois marks an exciting next step to further increase our presence in this region. By blending the state’s rich culture with our commitment to community, we hope to build long-lasting relationships with adult-use consumers.”

Timeless products will be available with activations at select Curaleaf locations starting Wednesday July 3rd, followed by Zen Leaf on the 4th, and continuing with OKAY, Trinity, Bud & Rita’s, Be, Windy City, and Ivy Hall dispensaries in the weeks to come. In addition, new locations carrying Timeless later in the month will include The Cannabist, Ayr Wellness, Consume, RISE, Mission, and nuEra.

To learn more about where and when to find Timeless in Illinois this summer and the schedule for Timeless Takeovers at dispensaries, please visit the Timeless Illinois Launch Webpage. For more information on the Timeless brands, collaborations, and product availability, please visit https://www.timelessvapes.com.

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About Timeless:
Timeless was founded in 2011 with the vision of creating a leading lifestyle brand around high-quality cannabis products and unique engagement through the pillars of “Community, Culture, and Legacy.” Timeless began making cannabis products in 2013 and is celebrating their 11th anniversary. Their passion for innovation, unique brand building, and customer engagement has led Timeless to be a leading national House of Brands in the industry. Today, Timeless operates in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Ohio, Missouri, New Jersey, and now Illinois, and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. To learn more about Timeless please visit: https://www.timelessvapes.com.

SOURCE Timeless Refinery



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Restrictions on face masks proposed around country, but ACLU of Illinois has concerns

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Restrictions on face masks proposed around country, but ACLU of Illinois has concerns


CHICAGO (CBS) — Just four years ago, a mask requirement for indoor spaces was issued in Illinois at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and masks were still required on the Chicago Transit Authority and other mass transit as recently as the spring of 2022.

But now, there is a growing movement of lawmakers and communities who want to ban masks. Civil liberties advocates have some major concerns about that idea.

In surveillance videos of crimes being committed, the perpetrators are often wearing masks over their noses and mouths. In many cases, the coverings help hide the faces and identities of those responsible.

“They’re not wearing those masks to protect themselves from COVID,” said Ald. Ray Lopez (15th). “They are doing it for a very intentional reason.”

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For anyone caught committing a crime while wearing a mask, Lopez is proposing an enhanced penalty on top of any sentence a judge hands down.

“I’m not trying to ban wearing masks in the city of Chicago,” Lopez said, “but only trying to specifically target those individuals who are intentionally trying to conceal their identities while breaking the law.”

In northwest suburban Lake in the Hills, face coverings will not be allowed at the Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest unless for medical or health purposes. Organizers singled out decorative masks—such as skeleton, ski, or character masks.

This comes after fights broke out at a festival earlier this spring in Lake in the Hills. 

Lake in the Hills police said in part, “[W]e can’t ignore that we are seeing a trend locally and nationally of individuals with ill intent using face coverings to hide or disguise their identities.”

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But the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has expressed concerns.

“I think one of the things we are concerned about is the broadness and breadth of a lot of these sorts of bans,” said Edwin Yohnka, director of communications and public policy for ACLU Illinois.

Masks have also been used to conceal people’s faces during protests—including at the pro-Palestinian protest encampments at universities around the area and the country this past spring, and other events—notably including a protest that happened at 2:30 a.m. this past Saturday outside the home of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois) in Highland Park and left many neighbors alarmed and on edge.

After concerns about people shielding their faces while committing antisemitic acts, New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering a mask ban on public transit.

“We’re talking about people who use facial coverings to cover up their identity,” Hochul said.

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Yohnka said similar bans could unlawfully target people’s right to protest anonymously.

“What we’re seeing—I think largely in response to, you know, recent protests—are a sense that, you know, people should not be able to be masked in public for any reason,” Yohnka said. “We’ve never required that someone to identify themselves to speak. These laws suggest that people must be uncovered.”

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