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* You love to see it…
A trio of Wisconsin lawmakers traveled across the state line to an Illinois cannabis store on Tuesday to announce the filing of new legislation to legalize marijuana for adults in their own state.
The three Wisconsin Democrats—Sen. Melissa Agard and Reps. David Bowen and Mark Spreitzer—held the event outside a dispensary in South Beloit, Illinois, which sits on the border with Wisconsin. They were joined by Beloit City Council President Clinton Anderson (D).
“All you have to do is look right that way and you’ll see the state of Wisconsin,” Agard said from the Sunnsyide cannabis shop’s parking lot, gesturing north and describing her state as “an island of prohibition.” She pointed out that a number of the vehicles in the parking lot had Wisconsin plates and shared that some of the store’s employees were in fact Wisconsin residents.
It really is nice that we’re taking cheesehead money for a change.
* Robert McCoppin at the Chicago Tribune…
A judge continued to keep in limbo new cannabis store licenses in Illinois while one applicant alleges that the state mistakenly kept it out of the first lottery to award licenses.
Cook County Judge Moshe Jacobius has ordered that the state not award any new dispensary licenses, including for medical cannabis, until he rules on a lawsuit before him. The state plans to hold the last of three lotteries to award licenses Aug. 19, but the judge’s order means the winners won’t get any of the 185 new licenses until the judge rules. State officials noted that lottery results may change as a result of further court orders or administrative review.
A business called Wah Group LLC, claimed that state officials wrongly eliminated one of its applications that qualified for the lottery in the St. Louis region. Court filings by Wah attorney Mazie Harris assert that state officials told Wah it would qualify for the next lottery.
Wah and Haaayy LLC have claimed that the state process for scoring cannabis license applications was flawed, and unfairly required veteran ownership to achieve a perfect score and qualify for all lotteries. The next court hearing is set for Monday.
Last year, after only 21 applicants qualified for 75 new licenses, Gov. J.B. Pritzker admitted problems with the scoring process conducted by consultant KPMG, and ordered that the applications be rescored. Those scores were released July 28, more than a year late, and winners were eligible for up to three lotteries.
* Tom Schuba at the Chicago Sun-Times…
The applicants waited for more than a year for a chance to jump into Illinois’ booming weed industry.
But now that they have won lucrative licenses to open marijuana dispensaries, craft grow operations or other related businesses, some could sell the licenses before ever opening up — potentially collecting millions in the process.
With the state’s troubled pot licensing process careening toward a conclusion, corporatized weed firms and other cash-rich buyers are now expected to go after the new licenses — many of which are slated to go to so-called social equity applicants, a designation created to boost diversity in the lily-white weed industry.
Rickey Hendon, a former state senator who won a dispensary license in last week’s lottery, acknowledged he and other companies are now entertaining a host of proposals to sell to owners with deeper pockets. A court order in a pending lawsuit has, however, blocked the formal issuance of the pot shop permits for now.
* More Tom Schuba…
The winners of the latest batch of 55 precious pot shop permits includes former NBA stars Allen Iverson and Al Harrington, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen, longtime news anchor Robin Robinson and the indicted son of ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo. […]
Degnen, who previously served as the deputy director of the state agency that regulates dispensaries, is affiliated with AmeriCanna Dream LLC, which notched a win in a region near St. Louis, Missouri. In a statement, Degnen said she has “worked diligently to ensure our work for equity and fairness in the cannabis space is ethical and transparent.” […]
Acevedo’s son, Alex, and his group, Latino Veterans Health and Revival LLC, also earned a license in the Chicago region. Alex Acevedo, who previously launched a failed bid for alderman, was hit with tax charges stemming from the probe of lobbying practices of Commonwealth Edison, along with his father and brother. They have all pleaded not guilty.
* Robert Channick at the Tribune…
Illinois recreational weed sales hit a record $128 million in July, helped by a late-month boost from the Lollapalooza festival.
The blowout sales month — up 10% from the previous high of $116.4 million in May — included four days of booming business at Chicago-area cannabis dispensaries during the annual music festival, which returned to Grant Park last Thursday after a one-year pandemic hiatus.
Recreational weed was legal in Illinois for the first time in Lollapalooza’s 30-year history, with large crowds of festivalgoers boosting sales by as much as 50% at nearby dispensaries in River North and the West Loop, according to operators.
* More…
* Clout, cops and a ‘Very Cavallari’ castmate: Here’s who just won weed licenses in Illinois
* Aurora woman ready to roll with Illinois cannabis transporter license
* Top Federal Drug Official Says Criminalization Creates Stigma And Harms Health Of Consumers
* Ascend Wellness Boosts Outlook After Q2 Net Revenue Increases 228% to $83.4 Million
* CannaCard® Announces Rolling Tour 2021
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 9:43 am
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Maybe the Wisconsin competition will drive prices down.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 9:53 am
===Maybe the Wisconsin competition===
GOP majority is opposed to legalization so far. It’s just a bill.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 9:58 am
What are the odds the lottery winners get their licenses in 2021?
Comment by northside reformer Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 9:58 am
===GOP majority is opposed to legalization so far. It’s just a bill.===
Just wishful thinking. Nothing will drive prices down, “Big Weed” will make sure of that. S/
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:03 am
Anyone that gets a license and does not use it or try’s to sell it should have to give it back to the state or at least the next person in line
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:11 am
== Anyone that gets a license and does not use it or try’s to sell it should have to give it back to the state or at least the next person in line ==
The problem is the license is issued to the corporation. They aren’t selling the “license” they are selling the corporation after the license is issued to the corporation.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:38 am
Interesting to see how Degnen critiqued Fritchey for being too connected and using the commissioner spot for his businesses and yet here she is getting into the same gray area.
Comment by Something about stones in glass houses Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:39 am
==Wah and Haaayy==
If you find yourself making both of these noises, that’s some primo stuff.
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:42 am
Thanks to Lolla, the term “rolling stones” has just taken on a whole new meaning.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:30 am
How to get around the corporate ownership thing and keep th licenses in the hands of the target owners. Maybe a license renewal process for that mandates the desired ownership behavior.
Comment by Froganon Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:42 am
“As you also know, the area along our Mag Mile and our parks is incredibly important to our hotel and tourism business. We want to make sure that those stay family friendly locations.” — Lori Lightfoot, September 18, 2019, justifying the Loop “exclusion zone” banning pot dispensaries.
– MrJM
Comment by misterjayem Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:48 am
Coincidentally, there is a strain of cannabis called Cheesehead and Head Cheese.
Comment by In_The_Middle Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 12:10 pm
The dispensaries in Illinois are such a bunch of ripoff artists that I am back in the illicit market.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 6:37 pm
Legalizing home grow needs to happen.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Aug 12, 21 @ 12:59 am