Collinsville dispensary sells out of some marijuana products. But more variety is coming.
Demand for marijuana was so high on the first day of legal weed sales that the Illinois Supply and Provisions dispensary sold out of some products, but it is planning to have a wider variety when more cannabis is available, a company official said Wednesday.
The Collinsville store, the only one in the metro-east, sold out of one of the two strains of cannabis flower it had in stock and one of the 11 kinds of vape pens before 5 p.m.
Wednesday was the first day it became legal in Illinois for anyone 21 years old or older to buy marijuana for recreational use. Heavy lines were reported across the state, from Chicago to Southern Illinois.
Some supply issues were expected with a new market of customers, especially with a shortage of cannabis flower in Illinois even before dispensaries could begin selling recreational marijuana.
Kathleen Olivastro, Illinois Supply and Provisions’ regional director, couldn’t say exactly when the Collinsville dispensary would expand its menu because it depends on the supply from cultivation centers. She said customers can get information on products when updates are available by writing Collinsville in a text message to 411669.
Wednesday’s menu at the dispensary included 21 items, from the flower to concentrates and edibles.
Olivastro said a new menu will be ready for customers who visit the dispensary Thursday.
Like Wednesday, there will be music, coffee and food trucks in the parking lot at 1014 Eastport Plaza Drive for visitors on Thursday.
Illinois Supply and Provisions began planning for the historic day six months in advance, which Olivastro said helped New Year’s Day run smoothly.
A 27-year-old customer from Collinsville, who did not want her name used, said the transaction process moved fast after hours of waiting in line for the dispensary to open. The only thing that slowed it down was the technology inside the dispensary, she said.
That’s because the state’s inventory system was moving slowly at the start of the day, according to Olivastro.
Illinois Supply and Provisions had 1,500 customers by 5 p.m., said Chris McCloud, a company spokesman. Estimates of how much money the dispensary generated weren’t immediately available.
The line Wednesday afternoon was still as long as it had been before the sun came up, with new people arriving steadily throughout the day.
Olivastro described the customers as patient and courteous. Several people said the feeling in the line was friendly, as people waited excitedly to legally purchase recreational marijuana for the first time.
Long lines are expected in Collinsville and at dispensaries across the state for at least the first few days of 2020.
Customers in line get inside on a first-come, first-served basis unless they’re medical cannabis patients, who move to the front of the line.
Illinois Supply and Provisions is the only metro-east dispensary that received state permission to make recreational sales, but up to four dispensaries will eventually be permitted in the region.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration declared Wednesday a successful first day for the industry in a statement.
“As we start a new decade, Illinois has achieved a monumental milestone: launching the legalization of cannabis in a way that includes communities left behind for far too long, creates good jobs and expunges thousands of records for those who have lost out on opportunities and ends prohibition,” said Toi Hutchinson, who advises the governor on cannabis policy.
“Today is a historic new day, and as we move forward with growing this industry, I thank all those who worked hard to make the launch a success and will continue to dedicate themselves to expanding opportunities and righting the wrongs of the past.”
This story was originally published January 1, 2020 at 7:23 PM.
