The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced sales totals for adult use of cannabis for the month of March.

Illinois dispensaries totaled $35,902,543.22 in adult-use cannabis sales in March.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders, March sales (with two more days) basically matched February totals of $34,805,072.01.

Medical and adult use cannabis dispensaries remain open as part of the “essential businesses and operations” named in Governor Pritzker’s executive order signed on March 20.

In March, Illinois dispensaries sold 812,203 items over the 31-day period.

Sales to Illinois residents totaled $27,096,931.23, while sales to out-of-state residents totaled $8,805,611.99.

In January, recreational weed sales totaled more than $39.2 million, one of the strongest showings among states that have legalized marijuana.

Both sides of the cannabis industry were included to ensure the cannabis supplier industry protects medical cannabis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the revenue generated by adult use cannabis sales funds social justice and equity goals at the core of Illinois’ adult-use law.

“Three straight months of consistent adult use cannabis sales show there is – and will continue to be – strong support and demand from consumers,” said Toi Hutchinson, Senior Advisor for Cannabis Control to Gov. Pritzker. “To ensure medical users are able to access the product they need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, curbside pickup will remain an option for medical patients through April 30.”

Dispensaries are permitted to sell medical cannabis outside of their limited access area on their property or on a public walkway or curb adjacent to the dispensary. Medical cannabis patients will be able to continue to utilize their designated caregiver to purchase medicine for them.

However, dispensaries may not deliver medical cannabis to a patient or caregiver’s home.

These rules do not apply to adult-use cannabis sales; those must still take place inside the limited access area.

A complete list of the rules extended may be found here.

Governor Pritzker recently signed an executive order that extends the deadline for applications for cannabis infuser, craft grower, and transporter licenses to the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) from March 30 to April 30.