No data exists on how many registered medical patients are actively growing cannabis in Illinois. Though many reasons factor into the number of patients who grow and why, two trendlines that are heading in opposite direction may suggest more medical cannabis patients in Illinois are opting to grow their own medicine.

Under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act (and Pilot Program), Illinois, in a steady upward trend, has recorded 351,820 qualifying patients (including 1,318 persons under 18 years of age). The number of active medical cannabis patients also follows an upward trend each year, peaking in February 2024 at 143,143 and hovering around 140,000 since. In FY24, 19,925 card applications were renewed and 9,836 were extended, and Illinois added 10,322 caregivers for 8,977 adult patients. In addition, medical-card fees have declined around 1-3 percent in the past three years.

Meanwhile, the trendline for monthly medical cannabis sales from dispensaries has been in decline since March 2021. Monthly medical cannabis sales peaked in March 2021 at $35,688,321.20. From there, total sales dropped nearly 40 percent to $22,209,648.89 in November 2024 and bottomed out September 2024 at $21,699,338.80 for the lowest monthly total since before recreational legalization. The decline in medical cannabis sales and the increase in active medical patients may suggest an increase in the number of Illinoisans who are growing their own medicine. Two possible reasons, among many factors, for an increased number of patients growing medicine include the fact that Illinois ranks first for the highest cost of cannabis per gram in all legal states and, in many parts of the state, patients lack close access to medical dispensaries.

At the same time, recreational sales in Illinois are poised to set another yearly record at the end of this month. Illinois’ yearly sales totals have increased each year since legalization (2020-2023) and are on track to surpass 2023 totals of $1,634,983,542.79 for a new record high in 2024. Total sales for 2024 (December and November not included) have already reached $1,556,730,290.66. November and December totals are expected to combine for around $285 million, which should bring Illinois’ 2024 sales totals to a new record high of around $1.8 billion.

These statistics have been taken from the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program’s website, the Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, and the Annual Cannabis Report. For more Illinois cannabis industry news, subscribe to Illinois News Joint’s newsletter here.

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