{"id":484935,"date":"2026-01-01T14:51:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/484935\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T14:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:51:16","slug":"recreational-marijuana-sold-legally-for-the-first-time-in-illinois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/484935\/","title":{"rendered":"Recreational marijuana sold legally for the first time in Illinois"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 1, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n<p>Is an important event missing from this date? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2026\/01\/01\/january-1-chicago-history\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"MIFDmS8k8r\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/01\/03\/new-years-day-in-chicago-the-warmest-coldest-snowiest-and-wettest-weather-since-1872\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Year\u2019s Day in Chicago: The warmest, coldest, snowiest and wettest weather since 1872<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Front page flashback:<\/strong> Jan. 1, 1941<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"With the United States on the sidelines of World War II its entry was still about a year away the Chicago Daily Tribune wished readers a &quot;Happy New Year In America&quot; on Jan. 1, 1941. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"4763\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-CTHIST-Jan-1-1941-newyears-day_229052565.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31076210\" \/>With the United States on the sidelines of World War II \u2014 its entry was still about a year away \u2014 the Chicago Daily Tribune wished readers a &#8220;Happy New Year \u2014 In America&#8221; on Jan. 1, 1941. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weather records <\/strong>(from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/wrh\/climate?wfo=lot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High temperature: <strong>61 degrees<\/strong> (1877)<\/li>\n<li>Low temperature: <strong>Minus 8 degrees<\/strong> (2000)<\/li>\n<li>Precipitation: <strong>1.76 inches<\/strong> (1972)<\/li>\n<li>Snowfall: <strong>11.3 inches<\/strong> (1903)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"The original Emancipation Proclamation is shown on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, Feb. 18, 2005. (Evan Vucci\/AP)\" width=\"3072\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-AP-EMANCIPATION-PROCLAMATION-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31076140\" \/>The original Emancipation Proclamation is shown on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, Feb. 18, 2005. (Evan Vucci\/AP)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1863:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2012\/09\/23\/the-emancipation-proclamation-lincolns-bold-stroke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Emancipation Proclamation<\/a> took effect.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"An exterior view shows an old water tank, circa 1870, that on Jan. 1, 1873, formally opened as the first home of the Chicago Public Library, which stood on a lot at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets. (Chicago Public Library) \" width=\"4011\" height=\"427\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ctc-first-libraryjpg-CT0099835642.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"17870575\" \/>An exterior view shows an old water tank, circa 1870, that on Jan. 1, 1873, formally opened as the first home of the Chicago Public Library, which stood on a lot at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams streets. (Chicago Public Library)<\/p>\n<p class=\"UfeRlc \" data-text=\"1873: Chicago Public Library opens its doors at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams streets in a circular water tank that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. A large donation of books is made by Queen Victoria.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1873:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/08\/16\/flashback-how-the-great-fire-of-1871-gave-rise-to-the-chicago-public-library\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago Public Library<\/a> opened its doors at LaSalle and Adams streets in a circular water tank that survived the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/tag\/great-chicago-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Great Chicago Fire of 1871<\/a>. A large donation of books was made by Queen Victoria.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Robert L. May, 67, stands outside his home at 9515 Avers in Skokie, with one of his Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on Dec. 20, 1972. (William Yates\/Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"5310\" height=\"420\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ctc-robert-mayjpg-CT0121084653.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"17850758\" \/>Robert May, 67, outside his home at 9515 Avers Ave. in Skokie, with his Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Dec. 20, 1972. (William Yates\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p data-text=\"1947: The copyright for &quot;Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer&quot; was officially transferred from Montgomery Ward to its creator Robert L. May. (This copyright was renewed in 1967, and the original 1939 version of the story is set to enter the public domain in 2034.)\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1947:<\/strong> The copyright for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2021\/12\/24\/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-was-created-in-chicago-by-montgomery-ward-copywriter-robert-l-may-to-sell-toys-in-1939-heres-how-the-popular-christmas-character-and-its-author-went-down-in-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer\u201d<\/a> was officially transferred from Montgomery Ward to its creator <a href=\"https:\/\/interactive.wttw.com\/chicago-stories\/rise-and-fall-of-the-mail-order-giants\/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-is-a-chicagoan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert May<\/a>. This copyright was renewed in 1967, and the original 1939 version of the story is set to enter the public domain in 2034.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"University of Illinois guard Alex Agase, who was named most valuable football player in the Western conference for 1946. He was awarded the 1946 Chicago Tribune Silver Football. (Chicago Tribune archive)\" width=\"1932\" height=\"592\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-CTHIST-AGASE-ILLINI_SPT-111606-P10-KWSHIST-00270786A_moments001_229042985.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31076310\" \/>University of Illinois guard Alex Agase, who was named most valuable player in the Western Conference, now the Big Ten, for 1946. He was awarded the 1946 Chicago Tribune Silver Football award. (Chicago Tribune archive)<\/p>\n<p data-text=\"1947: The copyright for &quot;Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer&quot; was officially transferred from Montgomery Ward to its creator Robert L. May. (This copyright was renewed in 1967, and the original 1939 version of the story is set to enter the public domain in 2034.)\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>Also in 1947:<\/strong> Illinois \u2014 including All-American guard Alex Agase \u2014 shocked the unbeaten UCLA Bruins at the <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-illini-whip-ucla-in-rose\/160773466\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rose Bowl<\/a>. The Illini won 45-14.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Art Murakowski (30), Northwestern fullback, fumbles the ball as he crosses the goal line from one yard out against California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 1949. Northwestern won the New Year's Day classic, 20-14. (AP)\" width=\"2929\" height=\"454\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-AP-ROSE-BOWL-NORTHWESTERN-1949-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31076353\" \/>Northwestern fullback Art Murakowski (30), fumbles as he crosses the goal line from one yard out against California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 1949. Northwestern won the New Year&#8217;s Day classic, 20-14. (AP)<\/p>\n<p class=\"UfeRlc \" data-text=\"1949: Bob Voigts, who played for coach Lynn &quot;Pappy&quot; Waldorf at Northwestern, coaches the Cats to a 20-14 victory over Waldorf's California Bears.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1949:<\/strong> Bob Voigts, who played for coach Lynn \u201cPappy\u201d Waldorf at Northwestern University, coached the Wildcats to a <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-northwestern-wins-rose-b\/160774115\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20-14 Rose Bowl victory<\/a> over Waldorf\u2019s California Bears.<\/p>\n<p data-text=\"1949: Bob Voigts, who played for coach Lynn &quot;Pappy&quot; Waldorf at Northwestern, coaches the Cats to a 20-14 victory over Waldorf's California Bears.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1964:<\/strong> Trailing at halftime, Illinois used second-half touchdowns by Jim Warren and Jim Grabowski to <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-illinis-fight-to-17-7-ro\/160773669\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">beat Washington 17-7<\/a> in the Rose Bowl. Illini star Dick Butkus, irked at reports suggesting the Big Ten champs were not in top physical shape, led his team on a postgame sprint around the field to show their fitness. Grabowski rushed for 125 yards and was voted the game\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"UfeRlc \" data-text=\"1993: Tribune Co.\u2019s CLTV debuts as Chicago\u2019s first all-news 24-hour cable channel. It shut down at the end of 2019.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1993:<\/strong> Tribune Co.\u2019s ChicagoLand Television News (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/1993\/06\/06\/now-the-news-on-cltv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CLTV<\/a>) debuted as Chicago\u2019s first all-news 24-hour cable channel. It <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/12\/16\/nexstar-shutting-down-chicago-cable-news-channel-cltv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shut down<\/a> at the end of 2019.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Chicago Bears quarterback Steve Walsh celebrates during the Bears' playoff victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan 1, 1995. (Jim Prisching\/Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"2828\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-MITCHELL-2C-730IMG_ALLNEWS_181879817.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31002782\" \/>Chicago Bears quarterback Steve Walsh celebrates during the Bears&#8217; playoff victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan 1, 1995. (Jim Prisching\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p data-text=\"1993: Tribune Co.\u2019s CLTV debuts as Chicago\u2019s first all-news 24-hour cable channel. It shut down at the end of 2019.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1995:<\/strong> The Chicago Bears scored <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-road-scholars-bears-bea\/160774250\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an improbable road victory<\/a> \u2014 35-18 \u2014 over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL wild-card game after losing twice to them during the regular season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tlXcolOEi0\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/24\/vintage-chicago-tribune-bears-playoffs-fog-bowl-double-doink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune: Bears playoff appearances \u2014 including the \u2018Sneakers Game,\u2019 the \u2018Fog Bowl\u2019 and \u2018Double Doink\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-text=\"1993: Tribune Co.\u2019s CLTV debuts as Chicago\u2019s first all-news 24-hour cable channel. It shut down at the end of 2019.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\">It was the Bears\u2019 first playoff victory since Jan. 6, 1990, and first road playoff triumph since Dec. 30, 1984.<\/p>\n<p class=\"UfeRlc \" data-text=\"1996: Northwestern Wildcats make first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949, but lose to USC, 41-32.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>1996:<\/strong> Northwestern made its first Rose Bowl appearance in 47 years, but <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-rose-bowl-1996-no-happi\/160774575\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lost to USC<\/a> 41-32.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2024\/12\/02\/chicago-bears-head-coaches-history\/<\/p>\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong> The Bears fired coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2018\/01\/01\/bears-fire-john-fox-after-3-seasons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Fox<\/a> after 3 seasons.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Jackie Ryan becomes the first customer on the first day of recreational marijuana sales as she receives her order from employee Brea Mooney on Jan. 1, 2020 at Sunnyside Lakeview. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"5652\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-IMG_ct-Illinois-legal-ma_2_1_HL7H84UN_L283017574_180853823.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31076443\" \/>Jackie Ryan becomes the first customer on the first day of recreational marijuana sales as she receives her order from employee Brea Mooney on Jan. 1, 2020 at Sunnyside Lakeview. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p class=\"UfeRlc \" data-text=\"2020: People in Illinois buy recreational marijuana legally for the first time.\" data-tooltip-position=\"bottom\" data-tooltip-vertical-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset=\"0\" data-tooltip-only-if-necessary=\"true\"><strong>2020:<\/strong> People in Illinois bought <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2020\/01\/01\/legal-weed-in-illinois-the-first-day-of-recreational-marijuana-sales-features-long-lines-some-glitches-and-mostly-happy-customers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recreational marijuana<\/a> legally for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to the free\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\">Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\">Chicagoland history Facebook group<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n<p>Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2026\/01\/01\/january-1-chicago-history\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2026\/01\/01\/january-1-chicago-history\/mailto:mmather@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 1, according to the Tribune\u2019s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":484936,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,531,6387,103999,218345,219310,472,5386,1818,219309,4630,3344,22190,39338,2432,53934,24827],"class_list":{"0":"post-484935","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-chicago-bears","10":"tag-chicago-history","11":"tag-chicago-public-library","12":"tag-cltv","13":"tag-emancipation-proclamation","14":"tag-history","15":"tag-il","16":"tag-illinois","17":"tag-january-1","18":"tag-legal","19":"tag-marijuana","20":"tag-northwestern-university","21":"tag-rose-bowl","22":"tag-sales","23":"tag-university-of-illinois","24":"tag-weed"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115820408949364697","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=484935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/484936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=484935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=484935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=484935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}