SAUGET, Ill. — There will soon be another place in the Metro East to get recreational marijuana.
Illinois approved two more recreational, adult use cannabis dispensaries.
The license will allow The Green Solution in Sauget, an existing medical cannabis dispensary, to get an adult use dispensing license.
RELATED: Collinsville's recreational marijuana dispensary to close for 1 day after 'unprecedented demand'
According to a press release, the license will permit the dispensary to begin adult use cannabis sales at that location immediately, provided the dispensary complies with local zoning rules or other local laws. These recent approvals raise the total number of approved adult use cannabis dispensary licenses in Illinois to 48.
The Green Solution has not said when it will start selling recreational marijuana.
The Green Solution is located at 2021 Goose Lake Road in Sauget.
Since New Year’s Day, Illinois Supply and Provisions in Collinsville had been the only location in the Metro East where people could get recreational marijuana.
Both Illinois Supply and Provisions locations, Collinsville and Springfield, have halted recreational marijuana sales on Mondays so they can focus on their medical patients.
Illinois Supply and Provision's 'Medical Mondays' first day was Jan.13.
“It really worked well, not only for our medical patients who didn’t have to deal with big crowds and lack of parking, but also for our staff who were able to focus their efforts on patients and training new employees,” said AWH Regional Director Kathleen Olivastro.
Pam Althoff with the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois told 5 On Your Side, "I do not expect the opening of Green Solution to reduce demand, but I do expect it reduce volume at other nearby dispensaries."
Althoff stressed that Illinois dispensaries first priorities are the patients and not the recreational users. She said most businesses have worked out ways to help their medical clients ahead of their recreational patrons.
"I don't expect supply shortages to be a long term trend, other states have had this issue with newly legal recreational marijuana," Althoff explains, "I don't think the shortages will last more than 6 months."
