Author Archives: Patrick V. (Midwest Dazed)

The Illinois cannabis industry is no stranger to controversy, but the latest news about 4Front Ventures has stirred up a major conversation. According to a Reddit post on r/ILTrees, 4Front, who opened the state’s largest cultivation facility in Matteson, IL, last November, has already defaulted on its lease. The company, which leases the facility fromContinue reading “4Front Defaults on Lease for Illinois’ Largest Cultivation Facility – What’s Next?”

The cannabis industry has been blindsided by the latest wave of sweeping tariffs enacted by the U.S. government, and it’s about to hit both producers and consumers where it hurts most, the wallet. While some might joke about “smoking their way through the economic gloom,” the reality is far from lighthearted. With U.S. President DonaldContinue reading “Tariffs Threaten Legal Cannabis: Price Hikes and Illicit Market Risks Loom”

For many Illinoisans, a trip to Michigan often means passing through Indiana. Along the way, travelers are met with a familiar sight, billboards advertising fireworks that are illegal in Illinois, followed by a wave of cannabis advertisements as they approach the Michigan border. Dispensary deals, brand promotions, and cannabis-related sales are hard to miss. However,Continue reading “Indiana Lawmakers Push to Ban Cannabis Advertising”

Early Wednesday morning, a cannabis dispensary in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood fell victim to an attempted smash and grab, leaving the storefront heavily damaged. According to police reports, officers responded to an alarm around 2 a.m. at the dispensary located in the 4700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle hadContinue reading “North Side Dispensary Targeted in Early Morning Smash and Grab”

In a major win for employee empowerment and social equity, Dispensary 33 has officially become the first fully employee-owned cannabis dispensary in Illinois. The pioneering company, which operates two stores in Uptown and West Loop along with four partnered Spark’d locations, finalized the historic transition through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The sale wasContinue reading “Employee Ownership Takes Root: Dispensary 33 Becomes Illinois’ First Worker-Owned Cannabis Company”

In an industry where transparency is key, Flora Arbor is taking a major step forward in ensuring consumers know exactly what they’re getting. The Illinois-based cannabis distributor has updated its packaging to include a simple yet powerful statement: “We Do Not Remediate.” For those unfamiliar, remediation refers to processes used to “clean” cannabis that hasContinue reading “Flora Arbor Stands Behind Clean Cannabis with Bold New Packaging Update”