Guide
Cannabis products, explained.
Flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, drinks, tinctures and topicals. How each is sold and how Illinois taxes it.
Updated October 2026
Pick a product type
Tap a type to see how it is sold, how Illinois taxes it and the limits that apply.
Flower
The dried bud of the cannabis plant, the most traditional product on any menu.
- Sold as
- Grams, eighths (3.5 g), quarters (7 g), halves (14 g), ounces (28 g)
- Used with
- Rolling papers, pipes, bongs or a dry herb vaporizer
- Illinois tax
- 10% excise at 35% THC or less
- Possession
- 30 g residents, 15 g visitors
Pre-rolls
Flower already rolled into a joint. Sold single or in packs.
- Sold as
- Single joints, multipacks, mini joints
- Infused
- Some are infused with concentrate and are much stronger
- Look for
- Weight per joint and whether it is infused
- Good for
- No gear needed
Vapes
Cartridges or all-in-one devices that heat cannabis oil into vapor.
- Sold as
- Cartridges, all-in-one disposables, pods
- Hardware
- Most carts use a 510 thread battery
- Illinois tax
- Usually 25% excise, since most are over 35% THC
- Look for
- Oil type and size in grams
Concentrates
Extracts that pack far more THC per gram than flower.
- Types
- Rosin, live resin, hash, badder, shatter, diamonds
- Solventless
- Rosin and ice water hash use heat, pressure or water, no solvents
- Illinois tax
- Usually 25% excise
- Possession
- 5 g residents, 2.5 g visitors
Edibles
Food and candy infused with cannabis.
- Sold as
- Gummies, chocolates, baked goods, mints
- Limits
- 10 mg servings, 100 mg per package
- Timing
- Labels warn effects may be delayed 2 or more hours
- Illinois tax
- 20% excise
Drinks
Cannabis infused sodas, seltzers, teas and shots.
- Sold as
- Cans, bottles, drink mixes
- Counts as
- An infused product, 20% excise
- Good to know
- Count the whole can as servings if it lists more than one
- Storage
- Keep away from kids, it looks like a normal drink
Tinctures
Cannabis extract in a liquid, usually dosed with a dropper.
- Sold as
- Small dropper bottles
- Dosing
- Measured by the dropper or by marks on it
- Look for
- THC and CBD per milliliter
- Good to know
- Start with a small amount
Topicals
Lotions, balms and oils applied to the skin.
- Sold as
- Balms, lotions, roll-ons, bath products
- Label
- Illinois requires DO NOT EAT on topicals
- Look for
- Cannabinoid content and ingredients
- Health questions
- Ask a doctor
Plant type labels
You will see indica, sativa and hybrid on most menus. Staff use them as shorthand, but effects vary by person and product. THC content and terpenes, the aroma compounds, tell you more than the label alone.
Label warnings
Illinois requires warnings on every package. Smokable products say smoking is hazardous to your health, edibles warn that intoxication may be delayed 2 or more hours, and topicals say DO NOT EAT.
Products FAQ
What is the difference between flower and concentrates?
Flower is the dried bud. Concentrates are extracts that hold far more THC per gram. Illinois limits reflect that: residents can possess 30 grams of flower but only 5 grams of concentrate.
What does solventless mean?
Made without chemical solvents. Rosin and ice water hash use heat, pressure, water or ice to separate the resin.
Why do vapes cost more after tax in Illinois?
Most vape oil is over 35% THC, so it pays the 25% excise tier instead of the 10% tier most flower pays.
Are indica and sativa labels reliable?
They are common shorthand at the counter, but effects vary by person and product. Ask about terpenes and THC content too.
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