Marijuana Business Magazine March 2019

March 2019 | mjbizdaily.com 25 Illinois The state launched a pilot opioid-alternative program Jan. 31. Dan Linn, executive director of NORML’s Illinois chapter, said he expects the program to contribute to a doubling of the number of medical marijuana users in the state over the next year. Illinois already has seen steady growth, with dispensary sales exceeding $130 million in 2018. Medical marijuana companies prepared for a boom in business as Illinois MMJ users began enrolling in a program designed to cut opioid addiction and overdoses. Louisiana The lack of an independent testing lab has been holding up the state’s medical marijuana program, which initially was expected to launch in late 2018. The latest delay means MMJ products likely won’t be available in the state until May at the earliest.