As many of you know, following Couch Lock’d, we’re not the biggest proponents of the Illinois cannabis market. The high prices, outrageous taxes, and limited selection compared to states like Michigan, Colorado, and California often leave us wanting more.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t trustworthy and worthwhile craft cannabis brands in Illinois. In this article, I’ll highlight some of my favorite craft growers who have launched within the past two years, along with recommended dispensaries across the state where you can find their products.
Let’s dive into some of my favorite craft brands that are consistently producing what I consider truly premium flower.
IC Collective
IC Collective was the first craft license holder to become operational in Illinois. They’ve introduced residents to new sativa strains, many of them powerful Chem crosses, which are a welcome addition to the market. Beyond flower, they also produce amazing quality rosin and live resin disposables. One of their standout new products is the “Quickies” five-pack of bubble hash-infused mini pre-rolls. Unlike many infused pre-rolls that clog or canoe, these burned evenly and smoothly, offering a truly enjoyable smoke. I highly recommend exploring their strains and products.
Flora Arbor
Another craft brand I enthusiastically recommend is Flora Arbor, which has rapidly expanded its portfolio across Illinois. Flora Arbor is dedicated to producing top-tier products for a variety of brands, including Exhibit’s Napalm, Kush Papi, and Cousins’ new line, Ravioli. They offer a diverse range of strains. For those seeking a quality infused blunt, I also suggest checking out the “Dynamite Stick” from Napalm.
Redemption Botanicals
You’ve seen us post about and review Redemption Botanicals frequently, and they’ve even sponsored our Baked Bingos! I’ve almost sampled every strain they offer, with only a couple, like “Stay Puffed” and “Garlic Gravity,” eluding me—though I expect them to be winners like the rest. You know my love for rosin, and Redemption was the first to bring 90u to the Illinois market, and it’s absolutely worth it. All their live resin bats are exceptional, and they’re consistently crushing it across the board. Their partnership with Cheech and Chong, and now Lobo, in Illinois further elevates their already impressive quality.
One Day
Finally, I’ll wrap up with One Day. I first tried a handful of their strains after meeting them at a Stash Orland Hills event and was impressed by all five. The “Red Runts” particularly stood out, with its strong candy-like aroma, sweet smoke, and pleasant head high. More recently, I picked up their “Blackberry” strain, being a big fan of blackberry varieties, and was very impressed. It had that classic black cherry nose with a nice Tropicana punch underneath. I believe One Day currently focuses exclusively on pre-rolls and flower, without offering concentrates.
This is just one of many upcoming articles where we’ll recommend brands to explore in Illinois, and these are just a handful of the craft growers we’ve tried and enjoyed. Some of the best places to find these products include:
- Stash (Orland Hills/Peru)
- Karma Club (Chicago)
- Perception Cannabis (Chicago)
Written by Patrick Vinson (Midwest Dazed)
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