This State Has Always Had a Relationship With Cannabis. We're Just the Latest Chapter.
Illinois has a complicated, fascinating, and ultimately hopeful history with hemp and cannabis. It's a story that goes back further than most people realize — and one that BAKED is proud to be a part of.
Hemp Was Here First
Long before cannabis became a political flashpoint, hemp was an agricultural staple across the American Midwest. Illinois farmers grew it. The soil here was good for it. It was used for rope, fabric, paper, and more — a practical crop for practical people.
That agricultural tradition is part of what makes the Buckbee legacy so fitting. Buckbee Seed Co. was in the business of seeds — of growth, of cultivation, of feeding and supplying communities. Hemp was part of that world. It always has been.
The Long Pause
Federal prohibition changed everything. For decades, hemp and cannabis were pushed underground — criminalized, stigmatized, and stripped of their agricultural and cultural context. Illinois, like the rest of the country, felt that shift.
But the plant didn't go anywhere. And neither did the people who understood its value.
Illinois Does It Differently
In 2019, Illinois made history — and not just by legalizing recreational cannabis. Illinois became the first state in the country where the legislature, not voters, legalized cannabis sales. No ballot initiative. No referendum. Elected officials made a deliberate, policy-driven decision to lead — and they built equity provisions into the law from day one, designed to address the communities most impacted by decades of prohibition.
That's not a small thing. That's Illinois saying: we're going to do this right, and we're going to do it ourselves.
Where We Fit In
BAKED isn't a cannabis company that happened to land in Illinois. We're an Illinois company — rooted in Rockford, built on 150 years of agricultural heritage — that found its way to cannabis because it made sense. Because the state made room. Because the timing was right.
Every can of BAKED Lemonade contains hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, fully compliant with federal law and available in states where it's legal. We're not operating in a gray area — we're operating in the light, in a state that chose to lead. See what that looks like in a can.
The Story Isn't Over
The relationship between Illinois and cannabis is still being written. Regulations evolve. Markets mature. Communities find their footing. And brands like BAKED — built on transparency, clean ingredients, and deep local roots — have a role to play in shaping what that future looks like.
We're not just along for the ride. We're part of the story.
Illinois made us possible. We intend to make Illinois proud.
— The BAKED Team, Buckbee Weed Co., Rockford, IL
BAKED products contain hemp-derived Delta-9 THC and are for adult use only (21+). Available only in states where legal. Contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.