LaSalle County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025 | IllinoisCannabis.org

Illinois Cannabis
LaSalle County Cannabis

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in LaSalle County?

Licensed cannabis cultivation in LaSalle County is legal for medical and adult use. Medical cannabis was legalized by the State of Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act (410 ILS 130) effective January 1, 2014, followed by various updates. Later, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705) legalized adult-use cannabis for persons who are 21 years old and older effective January 1, 2020.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act enabled counties and their municipalities to enact their respective ordinances opting out of adult-use cannabis businesses. As such, the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance 2023 prohibits all types of adult-use cannabis businesses in all zoning districts of unincorporated areas of the county. However, municipalities are free to allow or prohibit adult-use cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions.

For a company to be able to cultivate medical and adult-use cannabis in municipalities that allow it, a conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation center license must first be acquired from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), followed by the adult-use cannabis cultivation center license. Only upon the acquisition of the latter can cultivation operations begin. Holders of the medical cannabis cultivator license under the updated 410 ILS 130 as of January 1, 2020, were allowed by 410 ILCS 705/20-10 to apply for early approval to be able to grow both medical and adult-use cannabis.

The cannabis crop canopy allowed by 410 ILCS 705/20-30 for licensed adult-use cannabis cultivation centers is up to 210,000 square feet. In addition, the licensee is allowed to manufacture both medical and adult-use cannabis products.

The DCR also issues the adult-use cannabis craft grower license with an allowed cannabis crop canopy of only up to 5,000 square feet in accordance with 410 ILCS 705/1-10. Once the limit is reached, the licensee may apply to the DCR for expansion up to 14,000 square feet, depending on market needs.

Cannabis crop cultivation is restricted indoors by 410 ILCS 705/1-5. It must be done within a greenhouse or building that is locked and protected by a security system that works around the clock and was approved by the Illinois State Police.

There were 87 licensed adult-use cannabis craft growers in the State of Illinois as of July 27, 2023, with one of them located in the City of Streator, which is partly in LaSalle County. There were 21 licensed medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation centers in the state as of the same date, with one of them located in the City of Oglesby, also in the county.

Home growing of medical cannabis is allowed by 410 ILS 130 for medical cannabis cardholders aged 21 and above, provided it is for their own use only. Counties and municipalities are prohibited by 410 ILCS 705/55-25 from disallowing this. A qualified home grower is allowed not more than five cannabis plants that are above five inches tall. They may only do the cultivation in their primary residence. If they are not the homeowner, they must have the owner’s permission. The cannabis growing area must be indoors, within the home, or in a greenhouse that is on the property, always hidden from public view. The privilege to do home cultivation will be suspended if any rule violation is committed.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in LaSalle County?

It is legal to manufacture medical and adult-use cannabis products in LaSalle County under the State of Illinois’ updated 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705. However, since 410 ILCS 705 allows counties and municipalities to opt out of adult-use cannabis businesses through an ordinance, adult-use cannabis product manufacturers are prohibited in unincorporated areas of LaSalle County. On the other hand, municipalities of the county may choose to allow adult-use cannabis product manufacturers within their territories.

As mentioned previously, adult-use cannabis cultivation centers are authorized to manufacture both medical and adult-use cannabis products. The DCR also issues a cannabis infuser license that authorizes the holder to only manufacture adult-use cannabis products. There were 55 licensed adult-use cannabis infusers in the State of Illinois as of July 27, 2023, with one of them located in the City of Peru in LaSalle County.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in LaSalle County?

Licensed medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis product retail in LaSalle County is legal as stipulated by the amended 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705 of the State of Illinois, but adult-use cannabis retailers are prohibited by ordinance in unincorporated areas of the county. The municipalities in the county may, however, opt to allow adult-use cannabis retailers in their areas.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues the required conditional adult-use cannabis dispensing organization license and adult-use cannabis dispensing organization license that authorizes the retail selling of medical cannabis and cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, as well as adult-use cannabis and cannabis products to consumers aged 21 and older. Operations are only allowed to start upon receipt of the second license. Holders of the medical cannabis dispensary license under 410 ILS 130 as of January 1, 2020, were allowed by 410 ILCS 705/15-15 to apply for early approval to be able to sell both medical and adult-use cannabis.

There were 141 licensed cannabis dispensaries in the State of Illinois as of July 20, 2023, with 55 of them selling both medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products, and the rest selling only adult-use cannabis and cannabis products. Two of the licensed dispensaries were in LaSalle County, in the City of Ottawa, and the City of Peru.

The forms of medical and adult-use cannabis that licensed dispensaries are allowed by 410 ILCS 130 and 410 ILCS 705 to sell include dried cannabis, tinctures, oils, topical formulations, food items, and beverages, among others. A package of any cannabis product intended for ingestion is restricted by 410 ILCS 705/55-21 to a maximum tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 100 milligrams. If a cannabis product is intended for smoking, it is required to have a warning on the dangers of smoking to health.

In accordance with 410 ILCS 130, medical cannabis cardholders may only purchase every 14 days a 14-day supply or 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis. Patients whose medical condition requires more need to have a waiver from their healthcare provider to be allowed to purchase more.

Age-qualified consumers who are residents of the State of Illinois are allowed to purchase at every transaction 30 grams of raw cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate, and 500 milligrams of THC contained in adult-use cannabis products. Consumers who are of age but from out of state may only purchase half of the allowed quantities for residents.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in LaSalle County?

The delivery of medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products even to qualified purchasers is not legal in LaSalle County under the State of Illinois’ updated 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705. However, the transport of medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products between licensed medical and adult-use cannabis businesses is legal provided it is done by a cannabis transporter licensed by the DCR.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in LaSalle County

Residents of LaSalle County must apply online to get the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program’s (MCPP) medical cannabis card. Before doing so, they must obtain a healthcare provider certification that they are suffering from any of the following qualifying ailments:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Fibrous Dysplasia
Migraines
Chronic pain
Autism
Spinal cord injury
Severe fibromyalgia
Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Cachexia/wasting syndrome
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Lupus
Osteoarthritis
CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
Tarlov cysts
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Myoclonus
Neuropathy
Tourette syndrome
Spinocerebellar ataxia
Cancer
Crohn’s disease
Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Spinal cord disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Hydrocephalus
Myasthenia Gravis
Glaucoma
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
Residual limb pain
Irritable bowel syndrome
Arnold-Chiari malformation
Rheumatoid arthritis
Interstitial cystitis
HIV/AIDS
Hydromyelia
Sjogren’s syndrome
Hepatitis C
Dystonia
Muscular Dystrophy
Causalgia
Syringomyelia
Nail-patella syndrome
Seizures
Neurofibromatosis
Anorexia nervosa
Parkinson’s disease
Traumatic brain injury
Ulcerative colitis
Terminal illness

The certification will be sent electronically to the MCPP by the healthcare provider. The application will then be completed online by the patient. A patient below the age of 18 is required to have a caregiver who is either a parent or a legal guardian. The caregiver must also complete an online application. Adult patients who require assistance may also appoint a caregiver.

The following instructions for application must be followed by applicants based on which one is relevant to them:

The fees charged differ, based on the type of applicant and the card validity period applied for. Discounts are granted to U.S. military veterans and beneficiaries of the Illinois State Universities Retirement System Disability, Illinois Teachers’ Retirement Disability, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). The fee is waived for patients who are terminally ill.

Following is the fee chart:

	Patient below 18	Adult Patient	Adult Patient with One Caregiver	Adult Patient with Two Caregivers	Adult Patient with Three Caregivers	Caregiver
One-Year Card	$25	$50	$75	$100	$125	$25
Discounted One-Year Card	N/A	$25	$50	$75	$100	N/A
Two-Year Card	$50	$100	$150	$200	$250	$50
Discounted Two-Year Card	N/A	$50	$100	$150	$200	N/A
Three-Year Card	$75	$125	$200	$275	$350	$75
Discounted Three-Year Card	N/A	$75	$150	$225	$300	N/A

The digital medical cannabis card will be accessible through the registry account of the patient and the caregiver for downloading and printing. A separate valid physical ID must be presented at the licensed medical cannabis dispensary along with the digital medical cannabis card.

Patients who are registered under the State of Illinois’ Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP) may also apply for the MCPP medical cannabis card if they are aged 21 and older.

More information may be requested from:

Medical Cannabis Patient Program

DPH.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov

1-855-636-3688 (9 AM - 4 PM Monday to Friday)

Opioid Alternative Pilot Program

DPH.OAPP@illinois.gov

855-636-3688

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of LaSalle County?

Pursuant to 410 ILCS 70, the State of Illinois levies a 7% cultivation privilege tax on the gross sales of adult-use cannabis cultivators and craft growers. The state also levies a cannabis purchaser excise tax at 20% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis products, 25% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis that contains more than 35% THC, and 10% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis that has 35% or less THC content.

Furthermore, according to the tax rate finder of the State of Illinois, LaSalle County levies a 9.5% sales tax on adult-use cannabis and cannabis products, and a 1% sales tax on medical cannabis and cannabis products.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in LaSalle County

Medical cannabis was legalized in the State of Illinois, including LaSalle County, in 2014, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2020.

Data on the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in 2013, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 309 arrests for marijuana possession and 45 arrests for marijuana sales across the state, totaling 354 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2015, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 232 marijuana possession arrests and 24 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 256 marijuana offense arrests throughout the state.

In 2019, a year before the legalization of adult-use cannabis, there were 310 marijuana possession arrests and 15 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 325 marijuana offense arrests statewide.

In 2021, the latest data showed 1,159 marijuana possession arrests and 205 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 1,364 marijuana offense arrests in the state.

The number of DUI arrests in those years was as follows:

2013: 3,861 arrests
2015: 3,651 arrests
2019: 392 arrests
2021: 4,388 arrests