|
The governor was on hand Wednesday in Chicago to celebrate the
opening of Ivy Hall dispensary. Ivy Hall is the first of nearly
200 license recipients to open its doors using the state's
social equity application process.
Pritzker spoke on how the cannabis industry in Illinois is
thriving.
"Equity in ownership is just one small piece of how we built
equity into the entire cannabis program," Pritzker said. "With
just one month to go in 2022, our cannabis sales have totaled
more than $1.4 billion this year alone."
Pritzker said that the cannabis industry in Illinois is leading
the way for the rest of the country.
"As we have promised from day one, Illinois has the most
accessible and equitable cannabis industry in the nation,"
Pritzker said. "That's even with our hiccups and legal
obstacles."
While the state issues licenses to growers, infusers and
dispensaries, businesses still have to get approval from local
governments, providing additional hurdles.
Springfield Alderman Roy Williams Jr. said to allow the industry
to improve certain communities, leaders need to address the
stigma attached to the industry.
"I have a ward full of empty buildings that could be utilized
but are still sitting empty because of the boogeyman," Williams
said. "Our boogeyman syndrome puts us behind the ball, and then
we get all these communities that do it before us."
Pritzker said he is optimistic that more social equity
dispensaries will open up across the state.
"I am hopeful that that will be the case," Pritzker said. "We
are doing everything we can by providing loans to folks who need
them and making sure we are helping them through this process
the best that we can. So I am hopeful that we will see maybe all
of them, but I understand small businesses are hard to start."
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
|
|
