Green Thumb Industries will open a hemp store at Salt Shed, offering edibles and drinks to concertgoers in Chicago
Chicago: So, guess what? Green Thumb Industries, one of the big names in cannabis, is opening a hemp store at the Salt Shed. They’ll be selling all sorts of goodies like edibles and margaritas right at the concert venue.
This move comes right after some Illinois lawmakers tried to put rules on hemp products but didn’t succeed. So, the hemp scene is still pretty wild and unregulated. It’s kind of a big deal for a cannabis company to set up shop in such a popular place.
Ben Kovler, the CEO of GTI, mentioned that cannabis and music go hand in hand. He thinks it’s about time people could buy these products while enjoying a show.
GTI isn’t alone; Curaleaf, another major player, has also dipped into the hemp market. They’ve been promoting hemp products at the Salt Shed, but they don’t sell them there yet. Instead, they offer home delivery for their THC hemp gummies and seltzers, which are marketed as a fun alternative to booze.
Unlike regular cannabis, which you can only buy in licensed stores, hemp can be sold pretty much anywhere, except in a few states that have banned it. Illinois legalized cannabis in 2020, but hemp has been legal nationwide since 2018.
Hemp is defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, the stuff that gets you high. The idea was to use hemp for non-intoxicating products like CBD, but some clever folks figured out how to make it get you high too. Now, you can find these products in smoke shops and convenience stores without any age restrictions or testing requirements.
Recently, Governor JB Pritzker tried to push a law to regulate hemp more strictly, but it didn’t go through. Hemp business owners were worried it would hurt their businesses. Cannabis companies are also asking for changes to close the loopholes that let hemp sales happen so freely.
It’s not just cannabis companies getting in on the hemp action. Tilray Brand Inc., which owns several beer brands, announced they’re joining the hemp THC market too. Plus, a bunch of craft breweries are jumping on board.
With more folks looking for alternatives to alcohol, especially since COVID, it seems like the timing is right for this hemp store. Natalie Labriola from 16 On Center, which runs the Salt Shed, said they’ve been selling hemp products at other venues, but this is a whole new level.
The Salt Shed has been a hit since it opened in 2022, hosting tons of shows and attracting a crowd that’s mostly over 25. Many of them are looking for options besides alcohol, especially during the week.
Labriola emphasized that giving people choices outside of alcohol was really important to them. With younger adults leaning more towards cannabis and away from alcohol, it’s clear that the landscape is changing.
In Illinois, cannabis tax revenue has actually outpaced alcohol revenue, thanks in part to high taxes on booze. Analysts believe that cannabis is on track to become a mainstream product, and it looks like the trend is here to stay.
