Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said in an announcement hours before the start of the new year that his state had expunged nearly 500,000 marijuana-related convictions. The move follows Pritzker signing legislation in 2019 legalizing recreational marijuana use in the state starting in 2020. The expansive legislation also paved the way for 770,000 state residents to be […]
Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Cash-strapped Illinois turning down $100M in pot taxes, industry says
With Illinois facing a nearly $4 billion budget deficit next year, lawmakers and cannabis industry insiders have claimed the state is missing out on more than $100 million in tax revenue by blocking certain pot shops from relocating. While the state’s economy has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic, cannabis sales have remained a bright […]
Governor’s team to meet to address complaints about marijuana licensing process in Illinois
Amid a flurry of complaints that the marijuana licensing process is broken, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office announced Wednesday that his team will meet with those affected to address the issue. “The Governor’s office is currently working to schedule meetings with interested stakeholders, however, meeting dates and times have not been finalized,” Pritzker’s press office wrote […]
Lawsuit seeks to delay cannabis license lottery, alleges state picked 21 ‘politically-connected insider companies’
Two unsuccessful marijuana dispensary applicants are suing the state, hoping to hit the pause button on its plans to hand out 75 marijuana licenses. Awarding of the licenses is more than four months behind schedule and last week, the state announced that only 21 of 700 applicants would proceed to a lottery for the 75 licenses. Some lawmakers and […]
Illinois marijuana shop finalists include firms backed by ex-top cop Terry Hillard, restaurateur Phil Stefani: ‘Doesn’t sound … like social equity’
A day after state officials announced that just 21 applicants would be included in an coming lottery to determine the winners of the next round of cannabis dispensary licenses, minority lawmakers urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to delay all new permits over concerns about an applications process that allowed many clouted and seemingly well capitalized businesses […]
The Illinois Cannabis Market Is Strong, But Shortages Will Persist For Months
Illinois’ new recreational marijuana market is off to a hot start even amid the spread of coronavirus. Earlier this week, the state announced nearly $36 million worth of legal cannabis was sold in March — on par with numbers from February. March may be two days longer, but it was also when the coronavirus outbreak […]
Black Caucus chairman threatens to resurrect six-month delay for recreational marijuana sales in Chicago
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) says governor’s office is backtracking on promise to earmark two medical marijuana dispensary licenses for black or Hispanic operators. The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus threatened Thursday to try again to delay recreational marijuana sales in Chicago for six months after accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office of backing off […]
Many Illinois marijuana businesses aren’t sure they’ll be ready for recreational sales Jan. 1. Here’s why.
The medical marijuana dispensary in Naperville snagged one of the first state licenses issued to sell recreational pot, creating expectations of a steady flow of new customers when sales start on Jan. 1. But the dispensary’s plans were shelved just five days later when the Naperville City Council voted to prohibit recreational sales in the city. […]
Illinois’ Medical Marijuana Program Is Now Permanent, Expanded
Illinois’ medical marijuana program is getting a second wind. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a pair of bills on Monday expanding who can get a medical card, and when they can use it. The program was initially limited to just six years, but is now permanent. When the law was first signed in 2013, state lawmakers made […]
Gov. Pritzker expected to sign bill into law Tuesday that would legalize marijuana in Illinois on Jan. 1
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected Tuesday to approve a plan to legalize marijuana in Illinois next year, marking a momentous shift in how the state treats drug use. The governor is set to sign into law a bill allowing the licensed growth, sales, possession and consumption of cannabis for adults 21 and over, according to […]
