A legal high is about to become a bit easier in Chicago. The city's second medical marijuana dispensary is set to open its doors on Monday. Modern Cannabis, located at 2847 W Fullerton Ave, is being headed up by the team behind both Emporium Arcade Bars—the Logan Square location is adjacent to the new dispensary. It will join Dispensary 33 in Uptown (which opened on December 9) as the only cannabis dispensaries in Chicago city limits.
The path to opening has not been an easy one for Modern Cannabis. The business originally applied to open in Wicker Park next to the original Emporium location, but applied for a location transfer last year, according to co-owner Danny Marks. The dispensary originally hoped to open on January 1, but construction and state cannabis inspection programs contributed to the delay.
Illinois has by far the most restrictive medical marijuana laws of any state in the country. Patients can only qualify for legal pot if they have one of 39 state-approved diseases and conditions and are recommended by a bona fide doctor. As of February 3, just 4,400 patients were approved statewide. The law currently exists as a pilot program that will expire at the end of 2017—if Springfield doesn't re-approve it, all legal pot shops will be forced to shutter.