Tool
Chicago cannabis tax calculator.
Illinois excise tax by product type, Chicago sales tax and the city and county cannabis taxes, stacked into one real number.
Updated October 2026
What you really pay
Pick the product type, type the shelf price, or flip to budget mode and type what you want to spend out the door.
Cannabis tax calculator
An estimate. Each tax is figured on the shelf price. Shops can show taxes differently on the receipt, and discounts usually come off before tax.
Why the product type matters
Illinois is one of the few states that taxes cannabis by potency and product. Flower and other non-infused cannabis at 35% adjusted THC or below pays 10%. Non-infused cannabis above 35% pays 25%. Edibles and other infused products pay 20%.
Adjusted THC is delta-9 THC plus 0.877 times THCA, so almost all flower lands in the 10% tier and almost all concentrates and vapes land in the 25% tier. The Illinois Department of Revenue says concentrates and vapes are not infused products, so they do not get the 20% rate.
Chicago's local taxes
On top of the state excise tax, adult-use cannabis pays the general merchandise sales tax, which reached 10.5% in Chicago on August 1, 2026. The City of Chicago adds a 3% municipal cannabis tax and Cook County adds a 3% county cannabis tax.
Current rates
| Tax | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois excise, flower 35% THC or less | 10% | Non-infused cannabis at or below 35% adjusted THC |
| Illinois excise, over 35% THC | 25% | Non-infused cannabis above 35% adjusted THC, including most concentrates and vapes |
| Illinois excise, infused products | 20% | Edibles, drinks and other infused products |
| Sales tax, City of Chicago | 10.5% | General merchandise rate since August 1, 2026 |
| Chicago municipal cannabis tax | 3% | Adult-use sales in the city |
| Cook County cannabis tax | 3% | Adult-use sales in Cook County municipalities |
Rates as of our last monthly update. Rates change, and we update this guide monthly.
How to keep taxes from stinging
- Flower at 35% THC or less carries the lowest excise tax in Illinois.
- Ask about first-time customer offers. Discounts come off before tax.
- Compare price per gram. Bigger sizes often cost less per gram.
- Budget for taxes adding roughly a quarter to well over a third on top of the shelf price, depending on the product.
Tax FAQ
What is the cannabis excise tax in Illinois?
It depends on the product: 10% of the price for non-infused cannabis at 35% adjusted THC or below, 25% above 35%, and 20% for cannabis-infused products like edibles.
Are vapes taxed as infused products in Illinois?
No. The Illinois Department of Revenue says concentrates and vape products are not taxed at the 20% infused rate. They fall under the THC tiers, so most land at 25%.
What is the sales tax on cannabis in Chicago?
Adult-use cannabis is taxed at the general merchandise sales tax rate, which reached 10.5% in Chicago on August 1, 2026.
What local cannabis taxes apply in Chicago?
Chicago charges a 3% municipal cannabis tax and Cook County charges a 3% county cannabis tax on adult-use sales.
Do medical patients pay less tax?
Yes. Medical cannabis is exempt from the purchaser excise tax and taxed at the 1% state rate, and it is generally exempt from local retailers' occupation taxes.
Keep going
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