The Illinois Senate approved legislation Jan. 13 aimed at improving social equity in the state’s cannabis licensing process, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.
The bill would establish two systems for the state’s lottery for dispensary licenses—tiered and qualified—in order to issue 75 retail licenses that have been held up in legal disputes since regulators announced in September that only 21 social equity applicants would be included in the lottery.
The legislation approved by the Senate Wednesday would also create a new lottery for 75 additional dispensary licenses, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, which would be available to applicants in the first round who received high scores but did not qualify for the initial lottery to win one of the first 75 licenses.
RELATED: Illinois Lawmakers to Create 75 New Cannabis Retail Licenses
The bill now heads to the Illinois House for consideration.
