Joliet Deserves More Cannabis Dispensaries: Why The System Feels Rigged

Cannabis consumers in Joliet are likely a bit too familiar with RISE dispensaries. Why? It’s the only weed shop in the city, with both locations over five miles away from the downtown hub.

So when the news broke that a third (and potentially fourth) cannabis dispensary might be coming to Joliet, it opened doors for conversations around newly added sales tax revenue and other benefits to a vastly underserved Illinois city.

Unfortunately, plans for Bisa Lina Cannabis Dispensary to open up shop in the former NAPA Auto Parts store on Jefferson Street have come to a standstill.

Joliet’s zoning board voted a hard 5-0 against Bisa Lina’s special use permit to open a dispensary at 2121 West Jefferson Street.

Is this just bureaucratic red tape, or are we witnessing the early signs of a cannabis monopoly taking root in Joliet?

Stigmas and misconceptions. Let’s break it down.

Joliet zoning board members Ralph Bias, Ed Hennessy, Bob Nachtrieb, Jim Riggs, Brigette Roehr, and Debbie Radakovich voted unanimously against Bisa Lina Cannabis Dispensary opening doors on West Jefferson Street in an already-unoccupied storefront.

The Reasons:

According to Joliet Patch, here are just a few reasons why the zoning board was opposed to the idea:

• City officials have expressed concern about the location proposed since West Jefferson Street has a large concentration of liquor stores and smoke shops
• One member was concerned about the possible uptick in DUI cases and asked if there were national statistics available, although this wasn’t directly related to the proposal
• One member expressed concern and inquired if the location was part of the St. Joe’s Medical Campus TIF District— even after confirming that this wasn’t the case, they still decided to vote against it

Looking at Bisa Lina’s track record, their Carol Stream location has garnered an impressive 4.9-star Google rating across 700+ reviews. We recently visited and reviewed their Carol Stream dispensary located at 720 E North Ave.

My thoughts:

• Affordable prices compared to most shops
• Beautiful, welcoming atmosphere
• All the staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable

This dispensary even has a “terpene bar,” where customers can learn about the healing and therapeutic effects of different terpenes and strains.

Bisa Lina is taking the case to Joliet City Council for a final vote sometime in the near future.

A Bisa Lina dispensary in Joliet would generate around $12 million in annual revenue, which would mean an added $360,000 in local tax revenue for the city. While their lawyers and representatives prepare to make their case, they’ve gained a vocal ally in Joliet City Council write-in candidate Jim Lanham.

According to The Patch, Lanham openly criticized the zoning board’s decision, arguing that concerns about loitering and crime are based purely on speculation, not evidence.

“Fears of juveniles frequenting the store, loitering or other criminal activity taking place at the dispensary are completely unfounded and baseless. Incidents at these dispensaries just do not happen,” Lanham stated.

Lanham’s challenge raises a crucial question: If decisions are made on fear rather than facts, what hope does any new dispensary have of breaking through Joliet’s cannabis monopoly?

Would it shock you that Joliet only has two dispensaries serving over 150,000 residents? Even worse, it’s the same brand. RISE is the only dispensary brand in Joliet, and it has two locations around the city.

A monopoly happens when a single company or entity dominates a market, controlling supply, pricing, and consumer access with little to no competition. It’s a setup where customers have limited choices, and the dominant company can set prices as high as they want without fear of being undercut—because there’s no competition to challenge them.

Since RISE is the only operating dispensary in Joliet, it’s hard to ignore the signs of a cannabis market monopoly in the making.

In 2023, Joliet’s RISE dispensaries faced backlash over poor working conditions, including wage disputes and labor concerns that led to public scrutiny. Owned by Green Thumb Industries Inc.—one of the largest cannabis corporations in the U.S.—RISE’s dominance in the city raises concerns not only about competition, but also about the standards being upheld when there’s no one else to challenge them.

Joliet Patch learned from Bisa Lina representatives Dev Patel and attorney Nathaniel Washburn that Illinois’s goal is to issue 500 cannabis dispensary licenses in the state, with every 24,000 residents having one weed shop.

But so far, only two of those 500 licenses belong to RISE in Joliet. With no other dispensaries to compete against, Joliet consumers are left underserved, with limited options for comparing prices and products.

What Joliet’s zoning board might be overlooking is that today’s cannabis consumers are far from the outdated stereotypes of decades past.

Cannabis users come from all walks of life: nurses, teachers, lawyers, and seniors seeking therapeutic effects from a state-legal plant. The image of a typical weed user has evolved, but lingering stigma still clouds judgment.

The presence of dispensaries often brings more benefits than concerns. Research from Denver, Colorado found that crime rates reduced by 19% in neighborhoods with weed shops compared to those without.

Plus, vacant properties like the former NAPA Auto Parts store in Joliet can become targets for illicit operations or trespassers. Having a licensed dispensary fill an empty storefront goes beyond convenience and sales—it increases positive foot traffic for the surrounding community, including other local businesses.

We still have hope that there will be another Joliet dispensary. And we’re not the only ones.

Lanham also explained that he’s optimistic about the Joliet City Council overriding the original vote and approving the special use permit.

“It needs five of the nine votes to pass. If I can get Mayor D’Arcy and Sherri Reardon, there is five. I’m also still trying to reach out to Larry Hug too,” said Lanham.

As it stands, cannabis consumers are left with one dispensary brand and two locations, both located over five miles away from downtown Joliet.

What are locals missing? Bisa Lina’s Carol Stream store has become renowned for its impressive prices, including its popular 5 cartridges for $100 deal, which has shoppers willing to drive over 45 minutes to shop their quality selection.

If Bisa Lina eventually opened a dispensary on West Jefferson Street, it would bring more than just competition—it would introduce their unique customer experience to a whole new city.

We’re talking Free Pizza Fridays, a terpene bar, and frequent raffles, not to mention a slew of deals that never disappoint. Until then, we’ve all gotta make a trek to visit the proper vibes and huge selection at what could be Joliet’s next dispensary.