By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – You can add a lawsuit to the push back to the latest round of recreational cannabis licenses. Black and Latino interests are upset only 21 applicants survived to vie for 75 licenses.
The point person for pot in Illinois is Toi Hutchinson, who said Tuesday, “We knew this was going to be an exciting time but a very, very disappointing time for the people who didn’t make it to the final phase.”
And Gov. JB Pritzker defended his administration – which State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) – who is Black – said “screwed” the minorities the “social equity” part of the cannabis program was supposed to help.
“I think everybody who has been involved in this process has said we are going to have to make little changes along the way as we learn from the process,” Pritzker said. “We are literally creating an industry. We want to make sure we get it right.”
Two of the losing applicants have sued the state.
Dave Dahl can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
