Gov. Pritzker says he will make the cannabis license process fairer

Posted on September 23, 2020
Illinois’ recreational cannabis program is supposed to involve minority businesspeople. (Photo courtesy: Neil Doyle/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Reacting to an outcry over the awarding of cannabis licenses, Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday said he would act to make the process fairer.

The complaints were that a relatively few – and some highly connected – applicants were awarded the 75 licenses in the last round of scoring for the hopefuls, in that case to benefit minority businesspeople and other under-represented groups.

At a news conference in Chicago Tuesday, Pritzker and his top cannabis advisor, Toi Hutchinson, said there would be opportunities for would-be license holders who do not receive perfect scores in their applications.

The governor says plenty more licenses are to be given out, and he is willing to work with the General Assembly on how to improve the process.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

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