The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) announced today the registration of its first medical cannabis dispensary.

Harbory, located at 8195 Express Drive in Marion, IL, successfully completed the DFPR business dispensary registration process and inspection and is now licensed to operate as a medical cannabis dispensary. Under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, the State of Illinois requires medical cannabis dispensing organizations to be registered with DFPR to acquire medical cannabis from a registered cultivation center for the purpose of dispensing cannabis, paraphernalia, or related supplies and educational materials to registered qualifying patients.

Medical marijuana patients are required to have a physician’s signature to purchase medical marijuana in Illinois. Although Illinois is among 23 states that allow marijuana for medical use some health systems are not permitting doctors to sign off because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level.

Medical marijuana is becoming more and more accepted as stories of its healing effects flood the internet. Colorado, of course, was the first to legalize marijuana as a recreational drug, and although most states have no plans to make marijuana widely available, many have adopted medical marijuana laws to treat a myriad of illnesses where traditional medication does not work.

Operations started Tuesday

Revolution Enterprises says that their 75,000 square foot Barry, IL cultivation center is up and running.

Revolution’s Director of Communications Bradley Vallerius says the plant got the OK last week from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and that it started growing at the $16 million facility on Tuesday, August 18.

The news comes just days after the company held a ribbon-cutting at its’ plant, located on the site of the old Apple Basket on the edge of town, and a job fair at the at the Western Community Center YMCA. 12 to 15 jobs were initially available, but the company says they could eventually hire up to 70 people, if the center reaches full capacity. Any additional hiring will be tied to market demand.  

ROCKFORD — Construction is underway on twomedical marijuana dispensaries in Rockford, and both are slated to start serving patients this fall.

Signs were installed today outside the former Lady Wellness, 2696 McFarland Road, just off North Perryville Road, for MedMar Rockford LLC. The company also held a news conference to announce its plans to open in October to patients.

CHICAGO (AP) — Patients must have a doctor's signature to buy medical marijuana in Illinois, but some health systems are forbidding doctors from putting pen to paper because the drug is still illegal at the federal level.

Others are cautiously allowing doctors to participate in the pilot program, even conducting training sessions to make sure doctors know their legal responsibilities as gatekeepers.

Illinois is among 23 states that permit marijuana for medical use, but the program has been slow to start since the law was enacted two years ago. Seven cultivation centers have been green-lighted to start growing cannabis; sales will begin later this year.

As marijuana prohibition falls in one state after another, cannabis sales are shifting from street corners to storefronts as opportunists line up to cash in on what optimists say is the biggest investment opportunity since the dot-com boom of the turn of the century.

Investors of all varieties are starting to look at marijuana as less of a stoner’s fad and more of a serious business venture. The industry totaled $2.66 billion in U.S. sales in 2014, up 74 percent from $1.53 billion the year before, according to the ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment network. Experts expect billions more in future growth from states where the drug remains illegal – for the time being.

Revolution Enterprises - Chicago, IL 
$70,000 - $100,000 a year

Revolution Enterprises seeks a Human Resources professional who shares our passion for pioneering the science of medicines derived from cannabis. The ideal candidate has at least 5+ years experience managing Human Resources functions. An exceptional candidate is aware and informed about medical cannabis and is driven to work hard to see regulated medical cannabis a reality in the US. The position is a leadership role, responsible for ensuring a strong, positive company culture pervades all employment policies and relations.

Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner made changes to two state bills involving marijuana on Friday via amendatory vetoes.

One of the bills looks to make possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana an offense punishable by a $55 to $125 fine in the state. Using his veto authority, Rauner decreased the amount of marijuana someone could possess to 10 grams and increased the fines to between $100 and $200. 

The governor said he backed the "fundamental purposes" of the measure, but said that this type of adjustment to drug policy "must be made carefully and incrementally."

Revolution Enterprises held its grand opening for its 20 million dollar, 75,000 square foot medical cannabis cultivation center and laboratory.

The state-of-the-art facility is located in Barry, Illinois and its mission is to advance the science of cannabis.

Revolution Cannabis Barry is one of two facilities managed in Illinois.

Inside the building, they will be researching new and effective medicines.

The center is expected to employ 70 to 75 people.

CEO of Revolution Enterprises, Tim McGraw, says the work done in the facility will provide medical help to many Illinoisians.