During Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “stay at home” order, Illinois dispensaries have been declared “essential services” and will stay open.

Though some Illinois dispensaries have stopped selling to recreational cannabis and others have begun curbside services, medical cannabis sales will continue.

Under the order, dispensaries fall under the same guidelines as pharmacies and grocery stores.

As of February 18, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has approved applications for 102,519 qualifying patients (including 598 persons under 18 years of age), since the pilot program began accepting applications for the Medical Cannabis Registry Program on September 2, 2014.

Other “essential businesses” exempt from the order include health care, public health, and human services professionals at the front lines. In addition, essential government and infrastructure needs, such as waste collection, airport operations, law enforcement officers, and child welfare personnel, are exempt.

Businesses such as restaurants, gyms, recreation centers, casinos, theaters, bars, and sport venues have been ordered to close.

Does Illinois need a cannabis delivery service?

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently announced medical dispensaries could sell cannabis “on the dispensary’s property or on a public walkway or curb adjacent to the dispensary.”

IDFPR noted that delivery to patients was not allowed.

States including Michigan, Massachusetts, Washington, Pennsylvania, and New York have issued bulletins relaxing regulations regarding delivery and in-store transactions in order to limit contact between patients and vendors.

During its “stay-at-home order” New York declared its dispensaries essential and allows them to expand delivery service without prior government approval and to conduct sales through shops’ doors and windows.

San Francisco

Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency allows licensed dispensaries to deliver and curbside pickups.

For more information on how Illinois dispensaries are adjusting to the pandemic, click here.