The Top Cannabis Dispensaries in Chicago
Stock up on flower, tinctures, edibles, pre-rolls, balms, and more at these top cannabis shops.
With 25 weed shops in the city, plus another 150 or so throughout the rest of the state and suburbs, the Land of Lincoln is in the midst of a serious bud boom, if you will. Naturally, we've compiled a handy guide to Chicago’s myriad recreational dispensaries, where newbies and experts alike can sample—and smoke—the goods, be it for stress mitigation, boredom relief, an alcohol alternative, or just a good ol’ Friday evening. Order ahead or simply walk in to browse the wares: Just make sure to keep an eye on buying limits and other important details as they evolve.
West Town
When the folks behind one of the most prolific restaurant groups in the city branches into the world of dispensaries, you can rest assured your high is in good hands. Welcome to OKAY Cannabis, a cheery and casually cool new dispensary in West Town (following a cannabis lounge in Wheeling, complete with food and drinks, and another in Evanston). It’s the handiwork of the Fifty/50 Group, which owns crowd-pleasers like Roots Handmade Pizza and West Town Bakery. Last year, the brand opened a dispensary in the city, stocked with a wide array of products and an always-dynamic lineup of new items.
Wicker Park/South Loop
With two city dispensaries that look more like hipster art galleries, Spark’d distinguishes itself right away from a purely aesthetic standpoint. It’s the kind of effortlessly cool space you wanna linger and peruse, and between its array of brands, products, and styles, there’s plenty to keep your interest piqued. Daily specials and discounts keep things economical, and the well-versed staff is happy to provide recommendations and guidance, no matter if it’s your first time or your 50th.
Logan Square/South Loop
Located just off Logan Square (the actual square) within wafting distance of Lula Café, Billy Sunday, and The Owl, one of Chicago’s newer dispensaries has strong South Side roots. As Chicago’s first independent Black-owned dispensary, Grasshopper Club’s menu is split into helpful sections of staff favorites, top-shelf flower, microdose options, and more. You’re bound to find something to love.
Goose Island
A weed shop on Weed Street? That’s like florals for spring. This on-the-nose dispensary offers much more than fortuitous branding, though. The centrally located shop is one of several Illinois outposts, and it exclusively sells recreational items like edibles, vapes, and pre-rolls.
Bucktown/Logan Square
If Violet Hour were to ever open a dispensary, it might not be far off from Ivy Hall, the swanky new spot that opened just up the street from the iconic cocktail bar. With velvet-cushioned lounge chairs and other upscale amenities creating a posh vibe a step above the typical cookie-cutter dispensary, Ivy Hall manages to pull off the upscale aesthetic with nary a whiff of pretension. Speaking of whiffs, get a whiff of its 680-product-strong catalog of stoner delights, from gummies and bongs to pre-rolls and orange pound cake shake.
Lincoln Park
“Relax, exhale, calm, karma.” The website for this indie boutique, one of the newer entries in the city, looks more like a spa than a typical dispensary, and shopping here feels downright nourishing for the soul. Intimate and warm, the brand bills itself as a “social equity recreational dispensary dedicated to celebrating cannabis and community,” so you can feel good about chatting up the friendly budtenders and stocking up on flower, vapes, and tinctures aplenty.
River North
One of Chicago’s first social equity licenses was recently granted to this funky, bud-wallpapered shop backed by a powerhouse team that includes a former police commander. The majority Black and Latino-owned business boasts a massive 744-product catalog with knowledgeable budtenders to help guide you through the madness.
Jefferson Park
Cannabist (formerly Columbia Care) recently added 1,700 square feet to its Jefferson Park outpost to keep up with growing demand. Located near the Jefferson Park Blue Line, take a second to admire the store’s sleek black and white minimalist aesthetic before digging into the 563-item roster of recreational delights like mints, gelatos, CBD drops, and pre-rolls. Cannabist also has a suburban location in Villa Park, plus spots in 10 additional states.
West Loop, Pilsen, and Rogers Park
This stylishly designed imprint of the publicly traded weed conglomerate Verano Holdings has popped up in an unexpected location in Greektown, providing a welcoming environment where both longtime stoners and curious newbies feel right at ease. And with a gargantuan menu of 949 items to choose from, there’s clearly something for everyone. Hit up one of the “cannabis advisors” for details at this casually cool downtown spot (or one of the seven suburban locations). Zen Leaf also recently gobbled up a couple local shops: Herbal Care Center in Pilsen and Greengate in Rogers Park are now Zen Leaf locations.
River North
This laid-back River North neighborhood outpost is one of four statewide Verilife locations from Chicago-based parent company PharmaCann (with additional locations in Arlington Heights, Rosemont, and Romeoville). Let the friendly and knowledgeable staff guide you through this tidy shop’s 416-product-strong inventory of edibles, vapes, body oil, and more.
Lakeview and River North
Sunnyside is the retail arm of Cresco Labs, the largest marijuana operator in Illinois and now the biggest weed company in the US. Two of its 10 Illinois locations call Chicago home, including the original Lakeview location, with its orange and white walls perched just steps from Wrigley Field. In 2020, the company beat the competition as the first dispensary to bring weed to River North with its second Sunnyside in the downtown district. Peddling one of the largest selections on the market fueled by premium grow facilities, consider this one-stop shopping for all things cannabis.
Andersonville and West Loop
Chicago’s first cannabis operator is also one of the city’s most beloved. The sharp Andersonville outpost showcases welcoming touches like a soothing nature motif complemented by tasteful sketch art. And its love for the good green is clearly evident, as they’ve gained legions of loyal fans since opening as a medical facility back in 2015. Ah, remember those days? Light one up and reminisce. Getting in on the action closer to downtown, Dispensary 33 also mans a second spot in the buzzy West Loop.
Logan Square, River North, and Midway
This NYC-based business has been on an acquisition tear in recent years, buying out both the Logan Square and River North locations of the once-beloved MOCA Cannabis in late 2020. The company followed that up by purchasing Midway Dispensary, and opening its latest location in Tinley Park, bringing its Chicago-area fleet up to four stores (three in the city and one in Chicago Ridge). If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em—and by join 'em, we mean dive into the store’s diverse array of popcorns, fruit juices, pain relief balms, and so much more.
Brighton Park
Not nearly as many flights take off from Midway as from O’Hare, but traffic still flows to this gem located less than three miles from the airport and equipped with everything you need to get busted trying to board the plane. Maribis is known to regularly post deals and specials on Leafly, and the company also operates additional locations in Westchester and Springfield, so make sure to stop by after your next class field trip.
South Chicago
If you’re chilling on the Southeast Side and have a penchant for marijuana, you’re probably already well acquainted with Mission South Chicago. Located just over the border from Indiana, the shop brings in plenty of out-of-staters as well as devoted locals stocking up on everything from tablets and tonics to water pipes and lotions in a clean, judgment-free space that claims to have some of the lowest prices in Cook County. Mission operates six dispensaries throughout three states, with a second Illinois location in nearby Calumet City.
Norwood Park
Tucked away in residential, family-friendly Norwood Park, this straightforward dispensary is the perfect place to nerd out on the details of your flower strain’s cannabinoid and terpenes profiles or cop potent extracts in syringe form. Consume also operates suburban locations in St. Charles and Oakbrook Terrace (two of six in the state).
West Loop
This cozy hideaway features quite a bounty for a store of its size, stocking a stout selection of 475 items ranging from chocolate-dipped pretzels and GMO vapes to—believe it or not—a pretty sweet purple leather rolling tray in case you want to add a more royal flair to your next smoke sesh. Another also the original) location of Nature’s Care can be found in Rolling Meadows.
Clybourn Corridor
Formerly known as NuMed, this laid-back spot even offers gift cards perfect for that hard-to-shop-for stoner friend. Rewards members get 3% back on every purchase, and NuEra also runs six statewide locations (including two in Champaign-Urbana for you U of I grads in town for the game) in addition to shops in DeKalb and Aurora.