Recreational Marijuana

Customers inside Ascend's Fairview Heights dispensary approach the check out counter on March 25. The dispensary is the fourth in the Metro East.

Fourth Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Opens In the Metro East

Eric Schmid

Ascend’s Fairview Heights cannabis dispensary opened more than a year after the company first indicated it wanted a location in the Metro East city.

Cannabis flower grows at a recreational grow facility in Illinois. The state awarded new recreational marijuana business licenses on July 29, the first time since the state started legal sales.

Government, Politics & Issues

Illinois’ First-Year Legal Marijuana Sales Boomed, But Challenges Remain

Eric Schmid

The state still has to live up to its promises around racial equity.

State Rep. Peter Merideth speaks on the Missouri House floor during a November 2020 special session on a supplemental budget request.

Government, Politics & Issues

Missouri State Rep. Peter Merideth On His Bid To Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Jason Rosenbaum

The St. Louis Democrat also previewed the 2021 session and talked about his verbal clash with Rudy Giuliani.

Government, Politics & Issues

Cities in Illinois Can Now Collect More Taxes On Marijuana Purchases

Eric Schmid

Municipalities in Illinois that have cannabis dispensaries will start seeing more money from recreational marijuana purchases. Cities, counties and…

Cannabis plants grow inside Ascend Illinois indoor facility in Barry, IL. Ascend owns two existing medical dispensaries and plans to open two additional recreational dispensaries early next year.

Economy & Business

Steady Marijuana Sales Mean Security For Illinois Cities With Dispensaries

Eric Schmid

Collinsville’s marijuana dispensary is offering the city some insulation from economic damage caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The city can depend on…

Illinois Supply and Provisions in Collinsville sold $5 million of recreational marijuana in January. The dispensary accounted for 13.6% of sales in Illinois.

Economy & Business

Illinois' Marijuana Industry Isn’t Slowing Down, Even During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Eric Schmid

Businesses across the country are losing sales because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Illinois recreational marijuana dispensaries are not. The state on…

Cannabis plants grow under orange sodium lights in a medical marijuana cultivation facility in Oakland, California.

Government, Politics & Issues

COVID-19 Puts An End To Campaign To Legalize Recreational Marijuana In Missouri, For Now

The campaign to put recreational marijuana on the 2020 Missouri ballot is over. Organizers with Missourians for a New Approach said COVID-19 is to…

A worker trims marijuana plants in Ascend Illinois' growing facility in Barry, IL.

Government, Politics & Issues

The Illinois Cannabis Market Is Strong, But Shortages Will Persist For Months

Eric Schmid

BELLEVILLE — Illinois’ new recreational marijuana market is off to a hot start even amid the spread of coronavirus. Earlier this week, the state announced…

Government, Politics & Issues

Fairview Heights Approves Zoning Rules For Lone Marijuana Dispensary

Eric Schmid

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The city council on Tuesday voted 8-3 to approve zoning regulations for marijuana businesses that want to come to the community.This is…

On March 2, the Green Solution in Sauget became the second dispensary to sell recreational marijuana in the Metro East since Illinois legalized sales on New Year's Day.

Economy & Business

Short Lines, Quick Service On First Day Of Recreational Marijuana Sales In Sauget

Updated at 11:30 a.m., March 3, with comments from Erich Mauff, president of Jushi Holdings Inc., which now owns the dispensary in Sauget.Editor's Note:…