The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has issued 69 adult-use cannabis licenses, including 32 craft grow licenses, 28 infuser licenses and 9 transporter licenses.

The licenses were established under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act that legalized adult-use cannabis in the state, and were awarded to social equity applicants.

“As part of the administration's ongoing work to establish a legal cannabis industry that reflects the diversity of Illinois, the state has created multiple avenues to entry to encourage participation in the industry," said Toi Hutchinson, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Cannabis, in a public statement. “With the issuance of these first licenses, Illinois is expanding access to people and communities that were previously shut out. We look forward to seeing businesses get off the ground in the months ahead.”

The full list of licensees is available here.

Additional applicants that received a Notice of Award for Craft Grow and Infuser licenses have requested and received an extension from the IDOA to submit their licensing fee and other documentation, and will receive their licenses after submitting the required paperwork.

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On July 15, the IDOA notified the applicants who are eligible for one of the 213 new adult-use licenses—40 for craft grows, 32 for infusers and 141 for transporters—and regulators will issue up to 60 additional craft grower licenses and up to 60 additional infuser licenses before Dec. 21, according to a WSIL report.

“The Department is proud to issue the first round of adult use cannabis licenses in Illinois,” said Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello in a public statement. “Issuing these licenses is an important step forward not only for licensees, but also for the success of the Illinois cannabis industry. The Department will continue to partner with its licensees and other state partners to ensure that Illinois remains a national leader not only in safely and efficiently-regulated cannabis production, but also in creating an inclusive industry that looks like Illinois.”

Illinois is also in the process of awarding 185 cannabis dispensary licenses in a series of three lotteries, the first of which took place on July 29