Recently, the state of Illinois has approved for 110 recreational dispensary license to be given to minorities and women. This new license evens the playing field in the thriving cannabis industry in the state of Illinois.
This new bill will allow African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and women to become owners and significant players in the marijuana industry. It was awe-inspiring to see that the house voted 72-33 in favor of the bill. The name of the bill is House Bill 1443.
This bill’s passing was monumental and can be life-changing for African-Americans, Hispanics, and women because it will allow them to have a thriving business that can benefit their communities and families. In Illinois, for 2020, the medical and recreational marijuana industry made 1 billion dollars.
Several notable lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, such as Tim Butler republican, Jehan Gordon-Booth democratic, C.D. Davidsmeyer republican, and many more. However, several notable lawmakers voted against the bill, such as Keith Sommer, republican, Avery Bourne republican, Mike Murphy republican, and a few others.
One downside to the bill is that it does not allow minority owners to have their growing centers. The reason is that supplies are already limited for the current growing centers in Illinois. Even though this is a bit of a hindrance it gives minorities and women the opportunity to become business owners. They would just have to outsource the cannabis growing process.
One representative summed it up perfectly; she stated that nothing will ever be perfect, but if they don’t vote on the bill and get it passed, no new recreational cannabis licenses will be issued.
If the licenses are not given, then new dispensaries are not being created by minorities and women. The same dispensaries will continue to make billions of dollars in profits and the minorities and women will not have their opportunities to build wealth off this thriving new industry.
