Illinois announces the start of a cannabis disparity study
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office (CROO) announced on Feb. 7 that it has launched its Cannabis Disparity and Availability Study, which commissions a treaty group to find examples of discrimination in the local cannabis industry.
According to CROO, the study will “collect and analyze data and report whether there is discrimination in the Illinois cannabis industry,” CROO states on its website. “If discrimination is determined to exist, the disparity study will assess the impact of discrimination on the state and its residents regarding entry and participation in the state’s cannabis industry. The disparity study will include recommendations to reduce or eliminate identified barriers to entry.”
The study will examine laws and court processes affecting cannabis and cannabis and disparity studies, conduct interviews and form focus groups for public input, and compile data related to the state’s cannabis application process and business information.
A final report must be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor within 12 months, detailing all “potential remedial actions” to amend the current cannabis regulation. “This effort is an important assessment of the state’s cannabis social equity licensing system,” said Acting CROO Commissioner Erin Johnson. “We look forward to a final report that truly engages the voices of Illinois social justice candidates and our new cannabis companies.”
This has been almost a year since the state made a request to find someone to conduct the disparity study in February 2022. This resulted in the hiring of Neevu Group, a minority and women-owned contractor group based throughout Illinois, as plus some out-of-state locations.
“Together with our partners, Nerevu is honored to support the CROO, IDFPR and IDOA in building an even more inclusive and equitable cannabis industry,” said Reuben Cummings, Founder and President of the Nerevu Group. “This study is essential to identify potential differences and appropriate remedial actions. We are excited to initiate this project and look forward to engaging with the larger cannabis community.”
Legal adult cannabis sales began in 2020, and in July 2022 Governor JB Pritzker announced that 149 conditional state licenses would be issued and available to Social Justice applicants. “Illinois is a leader in tackling the war on drugs like no state has before, and pharmacy ownership, which reflects the diversity of our state, is a product of that commitment,” Pritzker said. “These licenses represent a significant step toward accountability for the decades of injustice that preceded cannabis legalization. Illinois will continue to deliver on its pledge to put justice at the forefront of this process.”
Just months later, two of Chicago’s first social justice cannabis dispensaries, Ivy Hall Damen and Green Rose Dispensary, opened in November 2022.
According to Nigel Dandridge, the co-founder of Ivy Hall Damen, it took a long time for his shop to open. “We’ve been trying to get a seat at the table for a while and we finally got it,” said Dandridge. “When this industry first opened up, we didn’t see anyone in our community benefiting from it or even being able to participate. So it was kind of hypocritical. I think it’s important that we can show you what we do. We want everyone to benefit. Our employees have worked hard and we are very happy to share this with everyone.”
In line with other states in the US, Illinois Assemblyman La Shawn Ford recently introduced House Bill 1 legalizing psychedelics in January. Ford’s bill would allow residents 18 and older to receive supervised psychedelic therapy. “I want to make it clear that this is a health measure. My proposal does not permit retail sale of psilocybin outside of a regulated therapeutic setting and ensures that drugs purchased for therapeutic use at a service center must be used under medical supervision and cannot be taken home,” Ford said. “Only Licensed Facilitators may provide treatment at a strictly regulated and licensed healing center, licensed healthcare facility, hospice, or pre-approved patient residence.”
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