MariMed Inc. has begun manufacturing cannabis products at its new processing kitchen in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. 

After lengthy construction and regulatory delays, the company expects its products to be available at dispensaries in Illinois in time for the holidays. These include MariMed’s five Thrive Dispensary-branded retail locations in the state.

“We are thrilled that after such a long delay, we are finally commencing operations of our Mt. Vernon processing facility, which officially makes MariMed a vertically integrated cannabis operator in Illinois,” said MariMed CEO Jon Levine. “It is an important part of our strategic growth plan to increase our revenue and profitability by expanding in the high-growth states in which we currently operate. Illinois regulations allow operators to own up to 10 dispensaries and three craft licenses, and we intend to continue expanding in the state.”

MariMed’s processing facility contains an extraction lab to produce concentrate and a production kitchen for the manufacture of edibles and other derivative products. A cultivation facility is currently under construction in the same location and is expected to be completed in 2024.

“Being vertical in Illinois will improve our retail gross margins and allow us to wholesale our branded products to other dispensaries,” said MariMed Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Crandall. “Our wholesale operations are already ramping and have secured early purchase commitments from retailers throughout the state. The opening of the processing facility, in addition to the opening of our cultivation facility in 2024, are important steps in the execution of MariMed’s strategic growth plan.”

MariMed intends to manufacture and distribute its brands and products throughout Illinois. That includes its Betty’s Eddies fruit chews, which was the top-selling edible in Illinois until 2020 when a third-party licensing agreement with Green Thumb Industries ended.

"Fans of the brand have been clamoring for us to 'Bring Betty Back' for three years, and we’re thrilled to finally address that demand," MariMed said in a statement to Cannabis Products Insider: "At the same time, the edibles market has continued to grow exponentially in Ilinois and across the country, so the timing is perfect. Consumers and medical cannabis patients will be able to find all the top-selling fruit chews in the Betty’s line-up at our five Thrive Dispensaries and at cannabis retails throughout the state."

MariMed will also bring Bubby’s Baked soft and chewy baked edibles; Vibations hydrating drink mix; InHouse gummies; K Fusion chewable tablets and more.

"We felt Bubby's Baked, which include a variety of bite-sized baked goods, fills a white space in Illinois for a new-but-nostalgic edible format," MariMed told CPI. "For so many consumers, their first experience with cannabis was eating a pot brownie. Vibations is unique in the cannabis beverage space in that it’s a mixable powder that gets added to water, delivering hydration, energy, and focus in a discreet and easily portable format. It’s perfect for amping up your workout, taking on a leisure activity like hiking, or bringing into a ballgame or concert."

Upon completion of cultivation facility construction, MariMed plans to commence selling its Nature’s Heritage flower through retail and wholesale channels.

MariMed operates five Thrive Dispensary locations in Anna, Casey, Harrisburg, Metropolis and Mt. Vernon, Illinois.