CHICAGO — Medical marijuana sales have begun in Illinois with patients flocking to state-licensed retail shops in five cities.
Among the first buyers Monday was Maggie Chatterton, a 25-year-old homemaker in central Illinois. She drove 20 miles to the Salveo Health & Wellness dispensary in Canton where doors opened around 9:30 a.m.
She says $385 an ounce is a fair price for a drug that she hopes will help her manage pain from a spine condition. She’s telling her 4-year-old son that marijuana is a natural medicine.
Five dispensaries plan to sell marijuana Monday. The others are in Addison, Marion, Mundelein and Quincy. Approximately 3,300 patients with Illinois-issued ID cards will be able to purchase medical cannabis.
Illinois is among 23 states with medical marijuana programs.
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Illinois medical marijuana timeline
The road to legal medical marijuana in Illinois began more than a decade ago, when proponents first began pushing legislation in Springfield. After many defeats, a law establishing a pilot program was approved in 2013. Here are key dates since the law was passed:
Aug. 1, 2013: Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, signs the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, making Illinois the 21st state allowing marijuana for medical use. The law authorizes a four-year pilot program that expires at the end of 2017.
July 15, 2014: A legislative committee approves the program’s rules for patients, growers and retailers. Public comments from patients, entrepreneurs and city officials helped shape the rules.
Jan. 1, 2015: A law takes effect expanding the pilot program to allow children to be prescribed non-smokable forms of marijuana.
Jan. 12, 2015: Quinn leaves office without awarding marijuana business permits, leaving the decision to his Republican successor, Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Feb. 2, 2015: Rauner awards permits to cultivation centers and dispensaries after finding flaws with Quinn’s process. Lawsuits follow from left-out investors, but the industry begins to get off the ground.
July 2015: The first cultivation centers are authorized to start growing cannabis.Oct. 9, 2015: Illinois starts mailing letters to patients telling them to choose a dispensary. Of 70 marijuana businesses initially approved by Rauner, only 12 cultivation centers and four dispensaries are ready to operate.
Oct. 29, 2015: State officials say retail sales of medical marijuana are expected to start within two weeks and ID cards are being mailed to approved patients.
Nov. 9, 2015: First medical marijuana sales begin under the pilot program with 3,300 registered patients. A trade group says five dispensaries are ready to sell marijuana on opening day.
