LOGAN SQUARE — In just one day, cannabis enthusiasts in Illinois have bought nearly $3.2 million in legal weed, the state announced Thursday.
But as nine Chicago dispensaries attempt to keep up with both medical and recreational demand, long lines, limited stock and sellouts of some products have been reported.
By Thursday afternoon, Logan Square’s Modern Cannabis, 2847 W. Fullerton Ave., was out of, well, almost everything.
RELATED: The Ultimate Guide To Buying Legal Weed In Your Neighborhood
By that time, the Logan Square dispensary only had THC gummies and chocolate available for recreational customers, though owners said on Instagram they expected to get more cannabis flower and vape cartridges in soon.
MOCA employee Anamaria Solis said they sold out of marijuana flower around noon Thursday, two hours after opening.
Solis, who helped run a dispensary in California before coming to Chicago, said she expects the next couple of months to be rocky.
“It depends on the cultivators and what the cultivators can provide,” Solis said. “I foresee it having limitations for a couple months to be quite honest.”
MOCA was open for business Friday, but said on their site “no stock is promised as it depends on lines/demand which are extremely high.”
They urged shoppers to follow them on Instagram for updates on stock.
NuMed, 1308 W. North Ave., was also out of flower as of noon, with only concentrates gummies and vapes on their menu — along with a four hour wait.
Medical patients at all dispensaries are able to skip the line and access flower or oils.
By Friday morning, NuMed was completely sold out of recreational products. Shoppers can join a text alert list for stock updates.
After serving 1,000 customers Wednesday, long waits continued at Andersonville’s Dispensary 33 Thursday. Customers, who can be paged when it’s their turn to shop, had a 3-hour-wait as of 2 p.m., but the shop had more flower and vape oils on hand than MOCA.
“If you check-in after 5 p.m, today it is likely that we won’t be able to serve you today. We’re open 9am-9pm everyday! And yes – we still have product,” the shop posted to social media.
Solis said MOCA is actively encouraging recreational users to apply for medical marijuana cards because many more people qualify for medical cards now that the qualifications have opened up and medical card users are having an easier and faster time getting product.
Despite the waits and limited stock, Logan Square pot buyers were still stoked.
“We’re just excited the fact that it is legal and [to take] a hold of that opportunity and get whatever we can legally,” Courtney Greenburg said while waiting in line.
The Herbal Care Center, 1301 S. Western Ave., is unable to sell flower to recreational users due to supply at this time, according to its website.
Columbia Care dispensary, 4758 N. Milwaukee Ave., could not be reached for comment, but one customer said they were completely out of flower on Thursday.
Not all dispensaries out of stock
Dispensary 33 and Mission Dispensary, 8554 S. Commercial Ave., still have flower, vape cartridges, edibles and more available for recreational users, according to staff.
Midway Dispensary, 5648 S. Archer Ave. and Sunnyside Dispensary, 3812 N. Clark St., could not be reached for comment Friday, but did have flower available according to their online menus.
Zen Leaf Chicago, 6428 N. Milwaukee Ave., could not be reached for comment on inventory Friday. Its online menu was also unavailable.
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