After lengthy delays, minority businesses see glimmer of hope in surging Illinois recreational marijuana industry

CHICAGO (CBS) — Leisure marijuana gross sales proceed to interrupt data in Illinois, with greater than 2 million merchandise bought final month, and greater than $100 million in gross sales.

This as minority-owned marijuana dispensaries are lastly one step nearer to turning into a actuality in Illinois. They’re set to greater than double the present variety of pot outlets statewide, all whereas the state and current medical marijuana homeowners have already raked in critical cash, with billions in gross sales since 2020.

The individuals who’ve been capable of afford to hold on and play the ready sport are glad to be one step nearer at the moment, however informed CBS 2’s Tara Molina the vital message to get on the market at the moment is XXX

Gov. Pritzker Indicators Legislation To Get Ball Rolling After Continued Delays In Licenses For Minority Marijuana Entrepreneurs

Akele Parnell, who gained one of many new dispensary licenses from the state, by no means imagined the method would take this lengthy after leisure marijuana was made authorized in Illinois in 2020.

“Completely not. I believe on the most, we thought perhaps it will be a pair months’ delay,” he mentioned.

As an alternative, it ended up being a 2 ½ yr ready sport for these seeking to break into the state’s marijuana business.

“Black and Brown entrepreneurs are simply sitting on the sidelines watching,” he mentioned.

 ‘This Is Simply The Starting’: Minority Owned Companies Await The Opening Of The Dispensary Lottery

Parnell is considered one of 185 who’ve been anxiously ready on the state to launch the licenses gained in a state lottery final yr, to allow them to lastly open a Chicago hashish dispensary.

“We utilized again in 2019 for dispensary licenses. These had been purported to have gone out within the spring of 2020, however right here it’s spring of 2022, and we might or might not get licenses through the summer season,” he mentioned.

Current medical marijuana operators had been capable of open leisure dispensaries immediately in 2020, however the wait has dragged on for these 185 others.

 Hashish gross sales are raking in billions in Illinois, however Black and Brown entrepreneurs are nonetheless in limbo with license delays

With the court docket battle that put a keep on these licenses now over, the state simply launched detailed directions, plans, and subsequent steps for future operators like Parnell, who expects to have a license in hand on or earlier than July 22.

After using a painfully costly curler coaster for greater than two years, he mentioned it is “positively a purpose for cautious optimism.”

It is also been a tough journey for fellow dispensary license winner Frank Cowan, because the state inches ahead with the brand new licenses.

“Come on, is that this ever gonna finish? You are feeling just like the world is in opposition to you, and your again is in opposition to the wall. And now we are able to see some mild on the finish of the tunnel,” he mentioned. “As soon as I’ve a license in hand, I believe I’ll be tremendous excited.”

 With license delays persisting and Illinois legislative session ending, state of affairs known as ‘dire’ for some marijuana entrepreneurs

These sentiments had been echoed by teams which have been combating for inclusion and a diversified business since day one right here in Illinois.

“That is going to be a make or break summer season,” mentioned Peter Contos, deputy director of Hashish Fairness Illinois Coalition

Contos mentioned, despite the fact that the state is transferring ahead, we aren’t out of the woods but.

“The primary message is: it is not over but. … There’s all the time one thing else ready within the wings. Oh it is one other lawsuit or one other keep. Or the state has to do one other lottery course of. Or you must submit extra data. There’s all the time one other step,” he mentioned.
“There’s nonetheless loads, loads, a variety of work to do, however it is going to be an enormous day for lots of teams.”

With new hold-ups and attainable lawsuits lingering on different state licenses, we’ll proceed to trace that. 

 ‘Extraordinarily irritating’: On 4/20, many minority marijuana companies have but to open