Issuing 60 licenses would more than double the current 40 craft grow licenses in Illinois and help give more individuals an opportunity to enter the cannabis industry.
“When we look at diversity of ownership, we aren’t in place to see they are reflective of the state overall and we hope to change that,” Brisbo said.
The new ordinance does not explicitly prohibit businesses from applying for recreational licenses in Detroit outright, the suit claims that it would make it very difficult to survive without a recreational license to compete adequately within the five-year period.
The expansion of craft grow licenses has long been a fraught issue in Illinois. Through lawsuits and general advocacy, craft growers in the state have sought reform since Illinois became a recreational state in 2019.
If passed, the measure would create a state constitutional amendment – similar to 2018’s medical measure – that would allow Missourians 21 and older to possess, consume, purchase, and cultivate cannabis.
CRMLA is requesting the court to declare the “transmission of the proposed law was legally proper” so the four month petition clock can begin in late January 2022.
The revisions would establish a new administrative review process, making it easier to file complaints or address certain issues without the need for litigation – a problem that tied up the previous 185 dispensary licenses issued.
According to Rep. Bland-Manlove, chief bill sponsor Rep. Hicks pulled back on a House floor vote at the last minute last week.
“The ordinance is still going to fail because it’s still based on the original language and the way new provisions were added,” Foster said.
Since most cannabis is grown indoors, HVAC machines and lighting systems are used instead of sunlight, adding to the carbon footprint.
