Illinois Recreational Cannabis Laws FAQ

Updated April 19, 2024

Is marijuana legal in Illinois?

• Yes.

Is marijuana legal for recreational use in Illinois?

• Yes. As of January 1, 2020, it is legal for adults 21 and over to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in Illinois.

I am not a resident of Illinois. Can I buy marijuana?

• Yes. Anyone over the age of 21 can purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in Illinois, including out-of-state and out-of-country residents.

Do I need a medical card or special identification to buy marijuana?

• No. You only need to prove you are over the age of 21. You can do this with a driver’s license, state-ID, or passport.

Where can I buy marijuana in Illinois?

• There are recreational marijuana dispensaries (pot shops) throughout the state. These shops are different from medical marijuana dispensaries and have a different type of license to sell to recreational customers. While many pot shops are both medical and recreational, not all are. To help you find the recreational shops, we have a complete directory of recreational pot shops in Illinois.

Can I get marijuana delivery in Illinois?

• No, Illinois does not allow recreational marijuana delivery. You must visit an Illinois recreational marijuana dispensary to get legal weed.

What kind of marijuana can I purchase in recreational pot shops?

• Every type of cannabis product can be purchased including: buds (flower), hash oil, edibles, cannabis-infused drinks.

How much marijuana can I buy in Illinois?

• Illinois residents can purchase up to 30 grams (one ounce) of marijuana flower, 5 grams of extract or concentrate, and 500 mg of THC in an infused product (edibles) , per day at one store. Non-residents can purchase 15 grams (half-ounce) of marijuana flower, 2.5 grams of extract or concentrate, and 250 mg of THC in edibles. These totals are cumulative, so you can purchase up to the limit of each form of cannabis at the same time.

How much marijuana can I possess?

• Illinois residents over the age of 21 can possess up to one ounce of marijuana flower, 5 grams of extract or concentrate (wax, shatter, oil), and 500 mg of THC edibles in public. Non-residents over the age of 21 can possess up to one-half ounce of marijuana flower, 2.5 grams of extract or concentrate, and 250 mg of THC in edibles.

Can I possess marijuana anywhere in the state?

• Almost anywhere. National parks, national monuments, and national forests are Federal lands and you cannot legally possess marijuana on Federal land. 

Can I possess marijuana in a car?

• Yes. You can possess marijuana in a car, but you cannot consume it in a moving vehicle.

Can I smoke marijuana while driving?

• No. You cannot smoke while driving and you cannot drive stoned. Both are illegal.

Where can I smoke marijuana in Illinois?

• You can smoke marijuana on any private property where marijuana consumption is allowed and not in the public view.

Can I smoke marijuana in public?

• No, not legally. You must be on private property where marijuana consumption is allowed and not in the public view.

Can I smoke marijuana in my hotel?

• Yes, some hotels allow it. But, there are also hotels that don’t. Check with your hotel for their policy. Typically, you would need to get a smoking room or have an outside area where pot smoking is allowed. Check our featured hotels and lodging guide for hotels with private balconies and smoking rooms.

Can I smoke my marijuana with someone under 21?

• No. It is illegal for people under 21 to buy, possess or use retail marijuana. It is illegal for anyone to give, sell to, or share marijuana with anyone under 21. Illinois law states you cannot consume cannabis in the proximity of a minor.

Can I take marijuana from Illinois out of state?

• No. You cannot take marijuana from Illinois outside of Illinois. You cannot cross the border with it and you can’t fly with it outside of the state. Finish it before you leave.

This is just a general guide and is NOT intended as legal advice. For more information on Illinois laws, visit the state’s official website: illinois.gov .