The first full (versus conditional) adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses for social equity applicants have been issued in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued the licenses to cannabis retailers Ivy Hall and Green Rose, both located in Chicago, according to a press release. Ivy Hall, located at N. Damen Ave., is 61% African American owned, and Green Rose, located at North Wells Street, is 15% Latino-owned and 2.5% African American owned.

RELATED: ‘A Very Long and Hard-Fought Battle:’ Inside One Company’s Quest to Secure Licenses in Illinois’ Adult-Use Cannabis Market

“In the coming months, Illinois is set to more than double the number of cannabis dispensaries, with every single new license holder being a social equity applicant,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “With equity as our north star, today marks the first step for retail cannabis operations to begin repairing the devastating harm caused by the failed War on Drugs on communities of color. Congratulations to Green Rose and Ivy Hall – and we look forward to welcoming many more social equity-owned dispensaries to our great state.”

“This is but the first two of almost 200 new full dispensary licenses IDFPR anticipates issuing in the coming months, and we’re proud to welcome Green Rose and Ivy Hall to the most equitable cannabis market of any state in the country,” IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. stated. “IDFPR is committed to ensuring a diverse and well-regulated cannabis industry in Illinois, and we look forward to welcoming even more entrepreneurs in the time ahead.”

RELATED: Illinois Social Equity Advocates, Business Leaders Call on State Officials to Allow Them to Begin Operations, Address Other Concerns in Market

IDFPR has issued 192 conditional adult-use dispensary licenses from 2021 and 2022 lotteries, according to the release.

Among businesses selected through Illinois’ lottery, 41% are majority Black-owned, 7% are majority white-owned and 4% are majority Latino-owned, according to the press release. Another 38% of conditional licensees did not disclose the race of their owners.

]]>