[PRESS RELEASE] – CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2026 – Illinois medical cannabis patients will soon have more places to shop, save on cannabis taxes and receive personalized support closer to home. Beginning Sept. 10, 2026, nuEra Cannabis will begin serving registered medical cannabis patients at its dispensaries in Champaign, DeKalb, East Dubuque, Aurora and Chicago Southland in Harvey.
The expansion follows new Illinois state regulations expanding medical cannabis access across Illinois. The changes allow more adult-use dispensaries to serve registered medical cannabis patients, creating new options for people who previously had to travel farther to shop through the state's medical program.
For nuEra, the expansion is also a return to its roots.
The Illinois-born, family-owned cannabis operator received one of Illinois' first medical cannabis licenses in 2015. Since then, nuEra has grown into one of the state's largest independent cannabis operators while maintaining its focus on patient care, education and local investment.
"Expanding medical cannabis access is especially meaningful to us because serving Illinois patients has been part of nuEra's DNA from the beginning,” nuEra Cannabis Director of Marketing Jonah Rapino said. “We entered this industry through medical cannabis, and we've seen firsthand how important knowledgeable staff, affordable access and the right products can be for patients. Bringing medical service to five more nuEra dispensaries means more Illinois patients can get that level of support closer to home. Ten years later, we're proud to keep building on where we started."
More Medical Cannabis Access, Support and Savings
For qualifying Illinois patients, purchasing cannabis through the medical program can mean 24% to 40% lower cannabis taxes than adult-use purchases, creating potentially significant savings for people who purchase cannabis regularly.
Beginning Sept. 10, patients at the five newly participating nuEra dispensaries will also have access to services and benefits designed specifically around the medical cannabis experience, including:
- Dedicated one-on-one medical consultation areas with trained, knowledgeable staff who can provide more personalized support.
- Help navigating the Illinois medical cannabis card process, including connections with certified health care professionals and assistance with the online application.
- Additional savings, including a $100 discount for new and renewing medical patients, which can be used across their first four qualifying visits.
- The ability to make product requests directly to nuEra's buying team, helping patients communicate which cannabis products and brands they rely on.
The expansion is part of nuEra's larger effort to bring medical cannabis access closer to where Illinois patients actually live while providing the education, resources, flexibility and personal service that medical customers deserve.
An Illinois Cannabis Company With Medical Roots
nuEra's connection to Illinois medical cannabis stretches back more than a decade.
The company has served medical cannabis patients since 2015, years before Illinois launched legal adult-use cannabis sales. That experience continues to shape how nuEra approaches patient service today.
Rather than treating medical cannabis as another transaction, nuEra focuses on helping patients understand their options and navigate an increasingly broad cannabis marketplace.
That local approach extends beyond its dispensaries.
Since 2020, nuEra's Community Social Responsibility program has given more than half a million dollars back to Illinois communities, supporting organizations and causes throughout the state.
nuEra has also built partnerships rooted in Illinois culture. Those efforts have included collaborations with Chicagoland chefs, artists and businesses, reflecting the company's belief that a homegrown Illinois cannabis business should remain connected to the communities that helped build it.
Together, those efforts have helped nuEra redefine what a local dispensary experience can look like, with an emphasis on making cannabis more personalized, accessible and affordable.
How to Get an Illinois Medical Cannabis Card
Illinois residents interested in becoming registered medical cannabis patients can visit nueracannabis.com and use nuEra's How to Get an Illinois Medical Card guide.
The resource explains the Illinois medical card process and helps prospective patients understand the steps involved. nuEra dispensary teams can also provide additional information and help connect eligible patients with certified healthcare professionals.
Patients and customers can visit any nuEra dispensary for more information:
