Denver dispensaries vs. Illinois dispensaries

OK OK I'll admit it.  I'm obsessed with the coming end of Prohibition on cannabis.  One reason is I 100% know CBD is a very good product for treating many kinds of issues and that the whole package that also contains THC is even better.  But really it's just fascinating to watch this experiment.

I have read everything I can about the great Colorado experiment and their problems and how they have fixed them.  NOW - Illinois is in the act.

We have been to Denver and checked out their dispensaries and asked questions like cub reporters and yesterday we had to go to Illinois anyway so why not see what is going on there.

The one dispensary that used to be called MedMar in Rockford was Medical only is now Sunnyside and since it is the closest dispensary to Wisconsin it's also pretty much sold out of all "flower" (what you smoke). 

When it was NOT sold out the average wait in line time was 4-7 hours.  South Beloit is building a dispensary to open later this year.  We were going past Ottowa ILL and they have a dispensary so we decided to stop there and see what was up.

**********************************

6  take away's from the first 14 days of sales in ILL. 

1. Demand is FAR FAR greater then expected 
2. Customers do not mind waiting in line for 3 hours in freezing temps
3. people are VERY pleased with the shopping experience
4. High prices and taxs are not slowing sales 
5. Supply will be a big issue for months 
6. There has not been a spike in DUI arrests 

In 12 days the state has sole over 20 million in cannabis 

********************************************
From what I have seen so far.

Dispensaries in Denver, for the most part are in industrial areas but I believe many times they have grow houses attached.  In Rockford Sunnyside is in an upscale neighborhood area with an outstanding upscale coffeeshop restaurant right next door.  In Ottowa it's next to an AnyTime Fitness fast food area.  The interesting thing is that in Colorado they found that the 3 square blocks surrounding a dispensary has MUCH less crime.

So in Denver and ILL you walk into a waiting room where there is normally a guard, you have the person behind a bank teller like glass cage and you give them your drivers license.  In Denver you then site down and wait, normally 10 minutes and talk to the other people in the waiting room or line.

 Always ALWAYS very friendly - it's like waiting in line for a concert ticket. You are all there for the same reason and everybody is your friend.

But this is where things diverge.  Denver you are called in and the Budtender asks how you can be helped, what are you looking for and  he/she will spend all the time you need.  There are perhaps 30 different strains and you can look and smell each one.  Some are for stress and relaxation (indica - "I da couch") and some are for getting things done (sativa) and give you energy and you can buy up to 2 ounces.

In ILL, at the moment, you stand in line, fill out a menu with MAYBE 3 strains but you can only purchase  1/8 of an ounce (3.5 grams). You don't get to see or smell and only know the THC level.

I believe this will change but there is SO much demand they just do not have time.  There were maybe 15 people in front of us and the line took 15 minutes.  The Budtender explained that supply is an issue as there are only 21 grow houses in ILL at the moment and the one they use is expanding by 24 acres this summer.

Prices?  For comparison.  Black Market in Wisconsin you get, I BELIEVE, on average $50 for 1/8 of unknown lower quality weed that has been pinched so instead of 3.5 grams it's 3.2 grams and who knows how much insecticide is in it.

Illinois  1/8 is $55 (per person) of high quality but very little choice on what you buy with 17% *** tax so it's about $64. With every single nutrient listed and tested.

***  17% seemed really low as I had heard it was more like 33%  from others. So I'm not sure what went on.

In Colorado the same strain (Blue Dream) $24 with about 22% tax so it's about $29. Heck you can get an ounce for under $200 easy in Denver of very high quality weed and there are dispensaries that are 100% organic.  *NOTE - got a text this morning from L'Eagle in Denver, an organic dispensary, $70 half ounces - HAPPY TUESDAY (if you are in Denver  LOL)

We did not bring any back to WI but as we crossed the border with 300 other cars per minute there was a trooper on a ramp watching.   

So - that is what cannabis in Illinois is about at the moment.  Not a lot of choice as supplies are stressed and it's expensive but you know what you are getting when it comes to pesticides and instead of putting money into drug lords pockets you are helping pay for education and roads and health care in Illinois.

Just don't touch your phone when driving.

ILLINOIS CANNABIS TAXES AMONG NATION’S HIGHEST, COULD KEEP BLACK MARKET THRIVING

Wonder where the recreational marijuana sold in Illinois comes from? Here’s how it’s grown.

********************

Packers are +7.5 dogs.  Not going to touch it.  I did love the -3.5 last week on the Pack but no opinion on this one.