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Adult cannabis sales have been legal in Illinois since 2020.
Even with limited license holders for the production,
transportation and sale, the state's industry has generated
billions of dollars in sales and hundreds of millions in tax
revenue for the state.
During the fall veto session, advocates and lawmakers discussed
an amendment to a measure to make it easier for small growers
and address a lack of licenses for transporters.
State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, said the amendment does
three things, including cutting application fees.
"Between January of 2024 and January of 2027, there will be no
fees required for the application for transporters," Hammond
said.
The bill received little pushback from lawmakers and has the
support of cannabis groups.
Tiffany Ingram of the Cannabis Business Association explained
her support for Senate Bill 1559.
"We at the CBI are supportive of this measure because we
understand that the way transportation licenses are released
every single year, and what has come to our understanding is the
number of licenses that are being released is not matching up
with the amount of work that is available," Ingram said. "There
is a structural imbalance there."
Peter Contos of Cannabis Equity Illinois said the bill would
clear up the licensing backlog.
"We have a very long backlog of transporters who just actively
cannot find contracts or find work," Contos said. "We are just
trying to make sure we do not add more people to the back of the
line."
After passing both chambers, the bill can now be sent to
Pritzker for further action.
Illinois has the third-largest cannabis market in the nation.
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