Everything You Need To Know About Buying Marijuana In Illinois

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Contributor: Asia Mayfield

For everyone fortunate enough to live in Illinois, an exciting time is quickly approaching. On January 1st, at 6 a.m., recreational marijuana became completely legal for every cannabis enthusiast within those legendary borders. And, along with all that excitement comes a heaping helping of misconceptions and incorrect assumptions. That’s why it’s vital for everyone to know the rules and regulations surrounding the sale (and use) of recreational cannabis. First and foremost, let’s talk about the purchasing process. For some, visiting a brick-and-mortar dispensary can be a little intimidating. Newer cannabis enthusiasts and folks who haven’t touched the stuff in years may feel like they aren’t “cool” enough to walk in, and confidently pick out some bud. These same folks are usually too nervous to ask questions about things they think the experienced smoker would already know. I get that. Nobody wants to appear like they don’t know what they’re doing. But trust me, all of that anxiety can be tossed out the window damn near immediately. These staff members, affectionately referred to as budtenders, are there to help newcomers figure out exactly what they are looking for.

These people only get these coveted cannabis positions after proving their extensive knowledge and acumen for any and all things marijuana-related. They can help guide customers through their large selection, and speak with them about their desired series of effects. Before long, you’ll be walking out of a dispensary with a baggie full of cannabis goodies, and a brain full of newly-acquired cannabis knowledge.

In short, don’t be afraid to ask questions – the more you know, the better.

The process of entering a dispensary is fairly similar, no matter where you go. When you approach the building, don’t be alarmed if you see a security guard. Some places have a few of these people walking around the premises to ensure that everything stays safe.

The main thing you’ll need with you, in addition to cash, is a government ID.

And this can’t be an expired driver’s license or aged passport. Everything needs to be completely valid before you can even think about heading inside. However, if you do have the proper form of identification, you can either present it to the security guard before entering or to the front desk reception area. It varies at each place, so as long as you have it on you, you should be good to go.

When they take your ID, you will see them typing away at their computers. What they are doing here is, essentially, adding you to their system. This will help expedite future visits, as you will then only have to present your ID to get scanned, and boom, you’ll be able to proceed onward to the dispensary’s showroom.

Once they have entered in your most basic information and confirmed your identity, the staff member will grant you access to the showroom, which is where all the magic happens.

Each dispensary’s construction is different. Some places have all of their products and budtenders visible from the front waiting/check-in area. Others keep their goods and showrooms locked behind thick security doors. And some places use a curtain of stringed beads to help set the tone and establish a vibe for the overall experience. It really varies everywhere you go. But regardless of your location, the showroom is where they have all the display cases full of products, large HD screens showing off their extensive menu, and much, much more.

While inside the showroom, the dispensary may go a number of different ways with their business model. By that I mean, some places allow the customer to cruise through their products at their own leisure, to get a better idea of what they want. Then, they’d line up and wait to be beckoned over by the next available budtender, who will help secure their desired items for them from a supply room. Or, in more modern locations, budtenders will walk the showroom floor alongside perusing customers. Armed with digital tablets, they will approach a customer when they feel like they may be ready to make a purchase or ask a question about a particular product. Then, in a very Apple Store kind of way, they will type in your order, and depart to the showroom to retrieve your goods for you. And, at other spots, they simply have a handful of budtenders waiting behind a glass display case along the back wall, waiting for you to make your way through a stanchion line. Every place is a little different. Also, it should be noted that most of these businesses are strictly cash-only. Which is understandable. However, there are a select few places who actually do take cards. But, if you show up to a cash-only establishment, and find your pockets empty, don’t worry, each dispensary is usually equipped with an ATM in the waiting area. But, be warned, these machines typically come along with a fairly substantial withdrawal fee, which is always a bit of a bummer. After you’ve paid for your goods, that’s basically it. You’ve successfully purchased legal weed in Illinois, and you should be proud of yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone. Also, you should be stoked to get home and fire up that newly-purchased bud. I know I would be!

Another important element that’s critical to be aware of is how much you can legally buy/have at a time. It tends to differ from state to state, but in Illinois, each resident (over the age of 21) is allowed to have 30 grams of flower, a cannabis-infused product that doesn’t exceed 500 milligrams, and five grams of concentrate. Which, to be completely honest, is more than enough for one person at a time.

But those generous limits can only be enjoyed by residents of the state. If anyone were to come to Illinois to visit and wanted to grab some marijuana during their stay, they would only be allowed to have half of that. So, for visitors, that’d be 15 grams of flower, cannabis-infused products that don’t exceed 250 milligrams, and 2.5 grams of concentrate.

Again, that’s plenty, especially for someone who is just passing through.

Also, it should be known that you can’t just smoke anywhere you want. If you were even thinking about firing up in public, I strongly urge you to reconsider. It’s against the law, and you better believe law enforcement will be keeping an eye (and nose) out for anyone trying to start up a session in the street. But, if you wait until your home, you’ll have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Obviously, there’s a lot of other intricacies that exist in the world of recreational cannabis, and you’ll learn them through experience, but these are the basics that everyone should know about before cannabis becomes legal in January.

Armed with this knowledge, I’m sure everything is going to be just fine. I mean, how can it not be?! Marijuana is finally legal in Illinois! The only thing left to do is to find your local dispensary, pick out some high-quality products, and enjoy them in the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy, Illinois – you deserve it!