Illinois reported massive increases in adult-use recreational cannabis sales and tax revenue during the state’s fiscal 2022.
Governor JB Pritzker said tax revenue grew 50%, from $297.7 million in fiscal year 2021 to $445.3 million.
He also reported similar growth rates for recreational cannabis sales, which totaled $1.5 billion in 2022, compared to $1 billion in 2021.
With the rise in sales and resulting tax revenue, Illinois was able to increase tax disbursements for local governments by 73%.
Pritzker said his state “has worked to ensure that communities hurt by the war on drugs have had the opportunity to participate.”
Under Illinois' adult-use cannabis law, 25% of tax revenue generated from cannabis sales must support certain communities.
That includes communities that are economically distressed, experience high rates of violence, and have been disproportionately impacted by drug criminalization.