Women have been central to Illinois’ push for legal weed since the very beginning — the bill to legalize recreational cannabis was sponsored by State Sens. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) and as state Reps. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria).
Since then, the state has been making strides to make the cannabis industry itself more equitable, including opportunities for women, LGBTQ+ folks, non-men and people of color to grow, sell products and own dispensaries. From 2020 to 2023, the number of women-owned cannabis companies has grown from 3 percent to 16 percent.
We offer this list of some of Illinois’ women-owned cannabis dispensaries for your 4/20 festivities. All offer a range of products, from vapes to flowers to edibles. You must be 21 years old to visit their sites.
For more information, visit Illinois Women in Cannabis, the state’s largest cannabis industry networking organization.
This post will be updated with more dispensaries. Are we missing some? Let us know!
Grasshopper Club
With locations in Chicago’s South Loop and Logan Square neighborhoods, Grasshopper is a family affair, owned by siblings and their parents. It also has the distinction of being the city’s first independent, Black-owned dispensary.
The Happy Cannabis Co.
Based in the Rockford area, this female-owned recreational dispensary offers discounts for veterans and seniors.
High Haven
The Darien dispensary, called The Gas Station, bills itself as a cannabis speakeasy, “tapping into the spirit of the roaring 20s” with a luxe feel to match. A second location is planned in Normal. Founder and CEO Mahja Sulemanjee-Bortocek says: “High Haven doesn’t just exist to sell cannabis – we’re making the world a better place to work, live, and play for everyone by focusing on crafting the best customer and employee experience we can.”
Market 96
This Oswego-based shop “was founded by the Blounts&Moore team, a collaboration of nine highly accomplished women partnering with other like-minded, socially conscious entrepreneurs.” The name “pays tribute to the first state-level cannabis legalization in the United States in 1996.”
Maribis
Medical and recreational shoppers have four locations to choose from in: Chicago, Westchester and Springfield.
Sociale
Founder Annu Khot was the first female cannabis license holder in Illinois and runs this employee-owned dispensary based in Park Ridge. Visit the website’s news section for clips about her amazing back story.
Windy City Cannabis
This woman-owned outfit offering medical and recreational cannabis has six locations across the state, including: Litchfield, this author’s hometown of Homewood, Posen, Carpentersville, Highwood (see what they did there?) and Macomb. They’re also focused on giving back: “With a local focus, we partner with charities quarterly, ensuring a positive impact on the community.”