People line up outside the marijuana dispensary HCI Alternatives in Collinsville at 6:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. At 7 a.m., when the doors opened, about 700 people were lined up to be among the first to legally purchase recreational marijuana in Illinois. The state now is allowing medical marijuana businesses to extend their hours to match those of dispensaries focused on recreational sales. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
CHICAGO — Illinois officials are allowing medical marijuana businesses to stay open later amid complaints that users have been at a disadvantage since a new state law allowing recreational sales took effect this year.
The department also reminded retailers to prioritize medical cannabis patients during product shortages in a separate statement released last week.
Problems due to limited supply have been widespread, leading some dispensaries to limit the amount of product people can purchase and to cut back on their business hours. The law broadly permitting adults to purchase and use marijuana products took effect Jan. 1.
The statement said dispensaries can’t designate products only for recreational customers to purchase. It also said retailers limiting the amount of marijuana that customers can purchase should use higher caps for medical marijuana customers than for recreational.
Illinois previously cut off sales of medical marijuana at 8 p.m., while other sales were allowed until 10 p.m. Medical sales can now continue until 10 p.m., the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said Friday.
“Our department will continue working to ensure patients receive the level of service they have come to expect from our medical cannabis program,” Secretary Deborah Hagan said.
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