Heading to the marijuana store in Collinsville for legal weed? Here’s your buying guide.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to legally buy marijuana at the metro-east’s dispensary starting New Year’s Day.
Where is the dispensary?
Illinois Supply and Provisions, formerly HCI Alternatives, is located at 1014 Eastport Plaza Drive in Collinsville. It is a medical dispensary that received permission from the state to sell to recreational weed customers.
Chris McCloud, a company spokesman, said the dispensary is planning to open a second location in the metro-east that will sell marijuana for recreational use only. Fairview Heights is “definitely an area we’re looking at” for the new location, McCloud said, but he added that the company isn’t ready to talk about an address.
Where do I park?
The Collinsville dispensary has a small parking lot for customers. If that fills up, Illinois Supply and Provisions will be directing visitors to park in the Gateway Center commuter lot at 1 Gateway Drive and on the north side of Executive Drive, which is south of the dispensary.
When is it open?
The dispensary will have special hours on Jan. 1, the first day recreational weed use becomes legal in Illinois. It will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It is returning to regular hours by Jan. 2, opening from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
What do I have to bring with me?
You need a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, for the dispensary staff to confirm that you are at least 21 years old, the legal age to buy marijuana. You will also need cash or a debit card to make a purchase, according to McCloud.
He said medical cannabis patients will need to bring a program registry ID card to purchase products at a lower tax rate and to move to the front of the line of recreational weed customers.
Will I have to wait in line?
Customers will line up outside the dispensary and will be allowed inside on a first-come, first-served basis — unless they are medical patients who receive priority under the state law.
McCloud said they are expecting long lines for the first few days of 2020, with some customers who might be purchasing marijuana for the first time and requiring more help.
“They’re going to have, understandably, a lot more questions,” McCloud said. The staff will be able to explain the varieties of weed strains, THC levels and the effects they might have.
How much weed will I be allowed to buy?
For Illinois residents, the maximum allowed in one purchase is up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of cannabis concentrate and 500 milligrams of THC in cannabis-infused products. Customers from other states can purchase half that amount.
How much should I expect to spend?
Prices will fluctuate based on demand, according to McCloud. Generally, the cost of an eighth, or 3.5 grams, of the flower or concentrates is $55-$65.
The average customer will likely spend about $180-$200 per visit, McCloud said.
Can I use my credit card?
No.
Will an ATM be available at the dispensary?
Yes.
Am I allowed to sample the products before I buy?
Not yet.
McCloud said that Illinois Supply and Provisions is interested in adding an “on-site consumption lounge” in the future. It would need licensing and approval from city officials first.
For now, the dispensary recommends customers put cannabis products in the trunk of their car in the sealed container they purchased it in until they get home. The law requires it to be sealed and “reasonably inaccessible” while driving.
Where can I consume my marijuana?
Recreational marijuana use is allowed in private residences. Check that it’s OK with your landlord if you’re a renter.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
