Andres Rodriquez walks through a lounge at Verano’s headquarters on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. Verano is a publicly traded multistate cannabis company.
Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune
A marijuana plant is seen March 22, 2019, at a medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
CHICAGO — When Illinois took the plunge and legalized medical marijuana in 2013, restaurateur George Archos decided he would get in on the ground floor.
"We made history," said John Payne, center, campaign director for the group Legal MO 2022, as he and other supporters celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Statewide Coordinator Ryan Quinones, center, and Chris LeGrand, right, both with Legal MO 2022. celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during a watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village downtown. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.co
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Proper Cannabis CEO John Pennington, center, celebrates the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Abe Givins, a co-owner of the minority business Village, smokes marijuana as he and other supporters celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Trey Trittler, a Key Account Manager at Nirvana Investments 5150, smokes mariuana while celebrating the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana in the state on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Jonathan Milo, CFA, CPA · CEO at VIBE Cannabis, waits for elections results with his wife Heather during a watch party for the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Mike Williams, General Manager at Luxury Leaf, center, and others supporters celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Adrienne Scales-Williams, the owner and founder of Missouri-based cannabis brand, Luxury Leaf and first Black-owned dispensary, left, celebrates the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
From left to right, Proper Cannabis CEO John Pennington, VIBE Cannabis CEO Jonathan Milo, and Executive Director at MoCannTrade (Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association) Andrew Mullins check election results for the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Proper Cannabis CEO John Pennington, center, celebrates the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
"We made history," said John Payne, center, campaign director for the group Legal MO 2022, as he and other supporters celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Statewide Coordinator Ryan Quinones, center, and Chris LeGrand, right, both with Legal MO 2022, celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana in the state on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
CAMP Cannabis CEO, Susan Griffith, left, talks with Dan Welsh of Green Farms and Root 66, during a watch party for Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Laurie Skrivan
Missouri legalize recreational marijuana
Chris Chesley, owner and operator of Star Buds, left, checks the election results during a watch party for Amendment 3 which legalizes recreational marijuana on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, during an Election night watch party at Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Andres Rodriquez walks through a lounge at Verano’s headquarters on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. Verano is a publicly traded multistate cannabis company.