Rock Island County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Illinois Cannabis
Rock Island County Cannabis

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Rock Island County?

Licensed commercial cannabis cultivation in Rock Island County is legal for both medical and adult use, while the home growing of cannabis is permitted only for medical cannabis grown by medical cannabis cardholders of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program (MCPP). The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act (410 ILS 130) of the State of Illinois first took effect on January 1, 2014, and has since been updated. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705) of the state took effect on January 1, 2020, legalizing the use of recreational cannabis by adults not younger than 21.

According to 410 ILCS 705, any county or local government may ban by ordinance any commercial medical and recreational cannabis cultivation business and medical cannabis home-growing by medical cannabis cardholders. Rock Island County has not prohibited any of these, though.

Medical cannabis cardholders in Rock Island County, however, must abide by the rule of 410 ILCS 705 to be at least 21 years old to be allowed to grow medical cannabis in their current primary home. If they are not the homeowner, they must have the homeowner’s approval. They can only grow up to five medical cannabis plants that are over five inches in height. The growing area must be inside the home or in a greenhouse within the property, locked to keep out unauthorized persons, and hidden from the public. Homegrown medical cannabis must be for the home grower’s use only. Any violations will result in the curtailment of the right to grow medical cannabis at home.

For the commercial cultivation of medical and adult-use cannabis, 410 ILCS 705/20-10 allowed licensed medical cannabis cultivators existing as of January 1, 2020, to apply for the early approval of an adult-use cannabis cultivation center license from the Division of Cannabis Regulation of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA). The DCR of the IDOA was also allowed by 410 ILCS 705/20-15 to open applications for the conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation center license but conditional licensees could not start operations until they have been granted the adult-use cannabis cultivation center license by the department.

410 ILCS 705/20-30 states that adult-use cultivation center licensees may grow up to 210,000 square feet of cannabis crop canopy. In addition, the licensee is authorized to do cannabis processing, produce cannabis concentrates, and manufacture cannabis products.

410 ILCS 705/30-5 likewise allowed the IDOA to open applications for the cannabis craft grower license. 410 ILCS 705/1-10 authorizes the licensee to grow a cannabis crop canopy of only up to 5,000 square feet. The craft grower licensee, may, however, apply for expansion from the IDOA if market demand is high, but may not exceed 14,000 square feet. The licensed cannabis craft grower is not allowed to process or manufacture cannabis products.

410 ILCS 705/1-5 states that all types of cannabis cultivation are only allowed within a building or greenhouse that is fully enclosed, locked, and equipped with a 24-hour security system pre-approved by the Illinois State Police.

As of August 30, 2022, there were 21 licensed medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation centers in the State of Illinois, with one of them in Rock Island County. As of November 1, 2022, there were 77 licensed medical and adult-use cannabis craft growers statewide, with none of them in Rock Island County.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Rock Island County?

Licensed commercial cannabis product manufacturing in Rock Island County is legal for both medical and adult use under the updated 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705 of the State of Illinois. Either an adult-use cannabis cultivation center license or a cannabis infuser license from the IDOA is required. The cannabis infuser licensee is authorized to only manufacture cannabis-infused products and may not grow cannabis crops.

As of November 1, 2022, there were 55 licensed medical and adult-use cannabis infusers statewide, with none of them in Rock Island County.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Rock Island County?

Under the State of Illinois’ updated 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705, licensed cannabis retail in Rock Island County is legal for medical cannabis and its products sold only to medical cannabis cardholders and recreational cannabis and its products sold only to adults not younger than 21.

410 ILCS 705/15-15 allowed licensed medical cannabis dispensaries existing as of January 1, 2020, to apply for the early approval of an adult-use cannabis dispensing organization license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). 410 ILCS 705/15-25 also allowed the IDFPR to open applications for the conditional adult-use cannabis dispensing organization license but conditional licensees could not start operations until the department has granted them the adult-use cannabis dispensing organization license.

As of June 1, 2023, there were 133 licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries statewide, of which 55 have medical cannabis retail licenses, among them one in Rock Island County.

According to 410 ILCS 705/1-5, licensed cannabis dispensaries are allowed to sell to qualified purchasers raw cannabis forms and cannabis-infused products such as oil, tinctures, food, beverages, topical preparations, and others. 410 ILCS 705/55-21 requires that cannabis products meant to be smoked must carry a warning that smoking is a health hazard. Cannabis products for ingestion must not exceed 100 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in every package.

A licensed medical cannabis dispensary is allowed to sell to each medical cannabis cardholder a 14-day limit of 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis. Should the cardholder wish to purchase more, a waiver from the healthcare provider of the patient on the MCPP online registry is needed.

For every adult Illinois resident not younger than 21, a licensed medical and recreational cannabis dispensary may sell at each transaction only the following maximum amounts:

Cannabis leaves: 30 grams
Cannabis concentrate: 5 grams
Cannabis-infused products: 500 milligrams of THC content

Non-residents of Illinois not younger than 21 may only be sold half of these amounts.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Rock Island County?

It is not legal under the updated 410 ILS 130 and 410 ILCS 705 of the State of Illinois to deliver medical or adult-use cannabis even to medical cannabis cardholders. These laws only allow the delivery of medical and adult-use cannabis between licensed medical and adult-use cannabis businesses, and only if done by an IDOA-licensed cannabis transporter.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Rock Island County

Patients and their caregivers residing in Rock Island County may apply online for the medical cannabis card of the State of Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program. No paper applications are accepted.

Before applying, however, the patient needs to get a healthcare provider certification indicating an illness that qualifies under the MCPP. The qualifying illnesses are:

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

The healthcare practitioner will upload the certification online so that it is already available when the patient makes an application. Specific instructions are available for the various types of online applications, as follows:

Patients below 18 automatically need a caregiver who must be either their parent or legal guardian. All caregivers must also apply for medical cannabis cards. They will use these to purchase medical cannabis and medical cannabis products for their patients.

The required documents for the online application are:

Proof of identity
Proof of current residency in Illinois
Proof of qualification for a reduced application fee

The fees for the medical cannabis card vary as follows:

Application	One-Year Validity Fee	Two-Year Validity Fee	Three-Year Validity Fee
Minor Patient	$25	$50	$75
Caregiver	$25	$50	$75
Regular Patient	$50	$100	$125
Regular Patient with One Caregiver	$75	$150	$200
Regular Patient with Two Caregivers	$100	$200	$275
Regular Patient with Three Caregivers	$125	$250	$350

U.S. military veterans and beneficiaries of the Illinois State Universities Retirement System Disability, Illinois Teachers’ Retirement Disability, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Disability, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) qualify for the following reduced fees:

Application	Reduced One-Year Validity Fee	Reduced Two-Year Validity Fee	Reduced Three-Year Validity Fee
Regular Patient	$25	$50	$75
Regular Patient with One Caregiver	$50	$100	$150
Regular Patient with Two Caregivers	$75	$150	$225
Regular Patient with Three Caregivers	$100	$200	$300

The approved medical cannabis card may be downloaded in electronic form from the patient’s or caregiver’s registry account or may be printed. If the electronic medical cannabis card is used at a licensed dispensary, another valid government-issued photo ID is also required.

Patients who are 21 years old and above and enrolled in the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP) of the State of Illinois may likewise apply to the Medical Cannabis Patient Registration Program for a medical cannabis card. They will need a healthcare practitioner’s certification stating that their medical condition requires opioid medication, for which medical cannabis would be a safer option.

The following may be reached for further inquiries:

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 Rock Island County?

In Rock Island County, as of June 5, 2023, there is a sales tax of 11% for adult-use cannabis and 1% for medical cannabis. In the fiscal year 2020, which is the latest data available as of June 2023, the county earned $186,428 from cannabis sales taxes. This made up 1.5% of the county’s total tax revenues for that fiscal year.

In addition, the State of Illinois imposes the following taxes on cannabis across the state:

A cultivation privilege tax of 7% of the first sale of medical and adult-use cannabis by licensed craft growers and cultivation centers, based on the selling price
A purchaser excise tax from all cannabis businesses equivalent to 25% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis with THC content over 35%
A purchaser excise tax from all cannabis businesses equivalent to 20% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis products
A purchaser excise tax from all cannabis businesses equivalent to 10% of the selling price of adult-use cannabis with THC content of 35% or lower
A county retailers’ occupation tax in unincorporated areas, at a maximum of 3.75% of licensed dispensaries’ gross sales of adult-use cannabis
A county retailers’ occupation tax in municipalities of a home-rule county, at a maximum of 3% of licensed dispensaries’ gross sales of adult-use cannabis
A county retailers’ occupation tax in municipalities of a non-home-rule county, at a maximum of 0.75% of licensed dispensaries’ gross sales of adult-use cannabis
A municipal retailers’ occupation tax with a maximum of 3% of licensed dispensaries’ gross sales of adult-use cannabis

According to the 2022 Annual Cannabis Report of the IDFPR, total sales of medical and adult-use cannabis from licensed dispensaries statewide reached over $1.5 billion.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Rock Island County

Medical cannabis was legalized in the State of Illinois effective January 1, 2014, and adult-use cannabis was legalized effective January 1, 2020.

On the FBI’s Crime Explorer page, data shows that in 2013, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 354 arrests for marijuana offenses statewide, comprised of 309 arrests for possession and 45 arrests for sales.

In 2015, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 256 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 232 arrests for possession and 24 arrests for sales.

In 2018, there were 286 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 274 arrests for possession and 12 arrests for sales.

The latest data available, which is from 2021, shows 1,364 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 1,159 arrests for possession and 205 arrests for sales.

In those years, the number of DUI arrests statewide was as follows:

2013: 3,861 arrests
2015: 3,651 arrests
2018: 2,815 arrests
2021: 4,388 arrests