Illinois officials are allowing medical cannabis businesses to extend their operating hours in an attempt to prioritize patients, according to The State Journal-Register.
Supply problems have plagued the state since adult-use sales launched Jan. 1, causing some dispensaries to shorten their business hours or set limits on how much product customers can purchase.
Illinois’ law previously set 8 p.m. as the cut-off time for medical cannabis sales, while adult-use sales were permitted until 10 p.m., The State Journal-Register reported. Now, medical sales can also continue until 10 p.m., according to a Feb. 7 statement issued by the Illinois Department and Professional Regulation.
State officials said in the statement that dispensaries cannot designate products for adult-use customers only, and indicated that any retailers limiting the amount of products that customers can purchase should use higher caps for medical cannabis patients than for adult-use customers, according to The State Journal-Register.
Illinois adult-use cannabis sales reached nearly $40 million in January, with dispensaries selling more than 970,000 items.
The state continues to accept applications for Cannabis Infuser, Transporter and Craft Grower licenses through Feb. 14.
