How many dispensaries are in Illinois?

As of March 2026, 244 active dispensaries operate in Illinois with roughly 120 additional conditional licenses in process. The state caps total licenses at 500, with approximately 137 still available. Illinois was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis through its legislature.

What are the major dispensary chains in Illinois?

The biggest chains are all headquartered in Chicago: Cresco Labs/Sunnyside (~11 locations), Green Thumb Industries/RISE (12-13 locations), Verano Holdings/Zen Leaf (10-11 locations), Ascend Wellness (10 locations), and PharmaCann/Verilife (7-8 locations). Other notable operators include Windy City Cannabis, Maribis, MOCA, Curaleaf, and nuEra.

What was the first dispensary in Illinois?

Dispensary33 in Andersonville (Chicago) was the first dispensary in Illinois and made the first legal recreational cannabis sale on January 1, 2020. It now has a second location in the West Loop.

IL Dispensary Directory — 244 Active Locations

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Illinois cannabis law as of April 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: March 2026

Illinois Dispensary Landscape

As of March 2026, 244 active dispensaries serve Illinois alongside roughly 120 conditional licenses working through the application process. The state set a 500-license cap with approximately 137 licenses still available. Illinois was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis through its legislature (not a ballot initiative), and the market reflects that deliberate, controlled approach.

What makes Illinois unique nationally is that every major multi-state operator is headquartered in Chicago. Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, Verano Holdings, and PharmaCann all call Illinois home. The state is not just a market — it is the corporate nerve center of the American cannabis industry.

244

Active Dispensaries

500

License Cap

~120

Conditional

~137

Remaining

Find Dispensaries by Region

Chicago

57+ dispensaries across River North, Wrigleyville, West Loop, Logan Square, and more. Home of Dispensary33 — Illinois' first dispensary.

Suburbs

DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and Cook suburbs. Verano, GTI, Ascend, and PharmaCann blanket the collar counties.

Downstate

Springfield, Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Rockford, Bloomington, and Carbondale. Home of the 100th social equity dispensary.

Border Towns

South Beloit (WI border), Danville & Tilton (IN border), Galena & Milan (IA border), and the Missouri reversal story.

Major Multi-State Operators

Illinois is unique: the biggest MSOs in American cannabis are all headquartered in Chicago.

Cresco Labs / Sunnyside — ~11 IL locations including River North, Wrigleyville, Schaumburg, Naperville, Champaign, Rockford, South Beloit, and Danville
Green Thumb Industries / RISE — 12–13 locations including Mundelein, Niles, Joliet (x2), Lake in the Hills, Canton, Effingham, and Quincy. Home of the RYTHM brand.
Verano Holdings / Zen Leaf — 10–11 locations including Aurora, Pilsen, Rogers Park, West Loop, Evanston, Highland Park, Lombard, Naperville, and St. Charles (operating since 2015)
Ascend Wellness — 10 locations including Logan Square, Midway, River North, Chicago Ridge, Tinley Park, Springfield (x2), Collinsville, and Fairview Heights
PharmaCann / Verilife — 7–8 locations including River North, Arlington Heights, Galena, North Aurora, Ottawa, Romeoville, and Rosemont

Notable Independents

Dispensary33 (Andersonville, West Loop) — Illinois' first dispensary and the site of the first legal recreational sale on January 1, 2020
Windy City Cannabis — 6 locations across the state
Maribis — Chicago, Springfield, Westchester
MOCA — Logan Square, River North
nuEra — Champaign, Chicago, Pekin

Illinois Dispensary Directory