In 2020, Illinois passed a widely anticipated cannabis social equity program. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was drafted “in the interest of remedying the harms resulting from the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis-related laws,” offering “financial assistance and license application benefits” to social equity applicants.
Two years later, Black and Brown cannabis licensees are not able to use their licenses due to court-related litigation. Aside from correcting the state’s faulty execution of the licensing application process, there has been no substantive cannabis legislation enacted since 2019, leaving the promises of equity and justice unfulfilled.
