Jacksonville’s first retail cannabis dispensary to open Friday

The grand opening for Kush21, Jacksonville’s first retail cannabis dispensary, is Friday.

Featuring 4,300 square feet of retail space at 1112 Veterans Drive and more than 1,000 product types, Kush21 had a soft opening Feb. 3. A ribbon cutting will be at 10 a.m. Friday, along with live music and a food truck.

Michale Beraki, CEO of Seattle-based Kush21, has been in Jacksonville getting the store ready to open. Beraki, along with Kenny Pleasant, are among the owners of the company. This is Kush21’s first location outside of Washington state.

“We’re excited to bring Kush21 to Jacksonville because we feel like our experience in this industry can be an asset to local consumers, aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs, and the industry as a whole,” Beraki said.

“Jacksonville is the only store planned for Illinois now, but we are going to see how this goes,” Beraki said. “I think we will be looking to expand because I think we will do very well here.”

Kush21 eventually wants to buy product from a craft growing operation planned at the former ACH Food Cos. facility at 1201 E. Morton Ave., Beraki said. Wyvern Botanicals already has received state approval and licensing and hopes to begin producing cannabis at the site by summer.

Recreational marijuana has been legal in Illinois since Jan. 1, 2020, although it remains strongly regulated and licensed. Buyers must be at least 21 years old.

Kush21 has hired 14 people, most of them full time. More than 300 people applied for jobs with the dispensary, Beraki said.

Kush21 will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

“The community has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. It’s been a wonderful experience,” Beraki said.

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