ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – January will mark five years since the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Over the course of one year, adult-use cannabis sales generated more than $457 million in state tax revenue.

When Illinois legalized adult use cannabis, the City of Rockford had a decision to make. The city accepted the sales of marijuana and taxed it at three percent. The revenue received from cannabis is now reinvested back into local communities.

“We’ve provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits, primarily nonprofits to help individuals,” says Rockford mayor, Tom McNamara.

Since the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the city of Rockford says its seen both positive and negative impacts.

“I have deep concerns about what takes place, you know specifically for our youth and specifically within our schools,” says McNamara.

Rockford’s mayor believes more focus needs to be put into who is providing cannabis to youth in the community. But, he’s also proud of how the city allocates the money collected from cannabis sales.

“A lot of the money that were taking from cannabis, were actually reinvesting into our youth,” said McNamara. “We know there will be some negative impacts, let’s at least invest in our youth where we can with programs like the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, tutoring efforts, mentoring efforts, that’s what we want to see.”

Right now, $500,000 goes to Rockford REGROW Grant Program.

“We take in the money and we want to get it back out into the community helping as many residents and local non-profits as possible,” said McNamara.

Lincoln Bias, the general manager of Buckbee Weed Company says he’s seen a lot of positives. Since opening in 2021, Buckbee says it generates a lot of customer traffic for other businesses in the area.

“Hardly any foot traffic in this block before the store opened and after the store opened, things really changed a lot. You started to see people on bicycles, people on roller blades, which I never saw before this store opened,” says Bias.

In January, the city of Rockford will give out four different $50,000 grants through their REGROW Grant Program. Along with that, two $100,000 grants will also be announced to continue to help benefit residents and local non-profits in Rockford.

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