Time short for Quinn on Illinois medical marijuana licenses

Posted on January 9, 2015

(Photo courtesy Flickr/Dank Depot)

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn's administration is running out of time to announce who will receive potentially lucrative licenses to run medical marijuana businesses in Illinois.
 
The Chicago Democrat's administration had promised the decision by the end of 2014 but still hasn't made it. The governor now has only three more days before handing control of the state to Republican Bruce Rauner.
 
Quinn could leave the decision to Rauner. The governor-elect has criticized the marijuana selection process as secretive and subject to cronyism. Rauner suggests auctioning the licenses to highest qualified bidders.
 
Quinn says his administration is simply trying to move with caution. But the political ties of some applicants have come under scrutiny.
 
Further complicating the matter: Illinois has collected more than $5 million in nonrefundable fees from the applicants.

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