Illinois Chicago is easing zoning restrictions that will allow recreational marijuana stores to expand. The City Council voted to lift the cap of seven marijuana zones in the municipality, while limiting the number of retail stores. The largest city in Illinois, Chicago, has permitted 18 adult-use cannabis retailers so far; there are 110 statewide. The approved proposal also will shrink the downtown zone where marijuana retailers aren't allowed to operate, though they'll still be banned from opening on a strip between Michigan Avenue and State Street as well as south Michigan Avenue. Marijuana retailers can now open without special approval from Chicago regulators. Retailers will be permitted where manufacturing operations are allowed, provided they are 650 feet from a residence. This also means cannabis retailers can bypass the zoning lottery to sell marijuana. Maine The state's recreational cannabis market continues to grow, even though less than 10% of the towns and cities in the state are allowing adult-use sales. Only 47 of Maine's roughly 500 towns and cities have chosen to allow recreational marijuana retail sales, and just 29% of the state's residents live in those municipalities. Even with that limited market, the state posted its strongest sales month in August, totaling $10.2 million among the 53 licensed adult-use retailers.