Riots cause dispensaries across Illinois to close
Recent social protests and riots have closed several dispensaries across Illinois.
Saturday, NuMed Chicago dispensary was attacked, according to NuMed owner Keith McGinnis. NuMed Chicago has been closed since, while NuMed Urbana closed at three today.
Sunday, according to 4Front Holdings president Kris Krane, Mission dispensary’s South Shore location was ransacked by 4-50 people, including some who were armed, the owner said. The store was closed early Sunday afternoon. Employees at the dispensaries were not harmed.
Sunnyside River North suffered cosmetic damage, according to Cresco Labs’ Chief Communications Officer Jerry Erkes. Sunnyside Champaign and Sunny Danville closed early Sunday.
On Facebook Monday, Nature’s Treatment of Illinois announced, “In light of recent events, and local evolving situations, we will remain closed today. Our plan is to resume business tomorrow at 10am. We will update further if need be. Stay safe, and take care of each other.”
NTI’s Twitter account tweeted, “Both NTI locations will remain closed today for the safety of our patients, customers and staff.”
Midway Dispensary in Chicago has a red graphic on its homepage that reads, “Temporarily closed until further notice (updates to follow) and then in green letters reads, “Stay safe everyone.” The graphic and words are blocking entrance into the site.
Beyond/Hello dispensary tweeted Monday, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, both of our locations will close at 6 pm today, 6/1. We apologize for this inconvenience.” Their dispensaries are located in Normal and Sauget. The dispensary later wrote on Instagram, “We fully support an individual’s right to freedom of speech and the touching peaceful demonstrations that we have seen around the country. We are heartbroken by the murder of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country that we not only work in, but live and love. Unfortunately, certain actions have at times manifested unacceptable behaviors. This past weekend, our downtown Philadelphia locations were broken into, making it impossible for us to safely operate. In addition to these store closures, we have limited our store hours in Illinois and will close all stores at 6:00 pm. local time. Please check www.beyond-hello.com for the latest details. It is our hope to begin safely servicing our customers soon from the impacted store locations and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our patients and customers. As committed members of the cannabis movement, we will also continue to fight for equality and work to overturn racially biased laws that ruin lives and unequally target disenfranchised communities and people of color.”
Dispensary 33 in Chicago announced on social media Monday, “We will be closed today for the safety of our staff and customers. We are deeply saddened by everything that has happened in our city and for the murder of George Floyd and too many others. To everyone fighting for justice in Chicago: we stand in solidarity with you. #JusticeforGeorge #blacklivesmatter.”
Verilife tweeted this earlier to day, “Hello Verilife Patients and Customers. Verilife dispensaries will be closing at 3:00pm CST today, June 1, and will be open 11:00 am to 4:00 pm tomorrow.
”Chicago pot shop ‘destroyed’ by looters after ‘everything of value taken’; 2 others hit – Mission, 8554 S. Commercial, was overrun by 4-50 people, including some who were armed, its owner said.
For a directory of Illinois dispensaries, check here.