The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued 55 cannabis dispensary licenses Aug. 5 in the second of three licensing lotteries, which will ultimately license a total of 185 new retail businesses.
The license winners were chosen from a pool of 589 applicants who qualified under the state’s social equity program and scored 85% or higher.
“Social equity and justice are the heart and soul of the Adult-Use Cannabis Program in Illinois,” said Toi Hutchinson, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Cannabis, in a public statement. “Today’s results open the door to increasing the diversity of the industry and continue building on our successes in expunging convictions and investing in communities disproportionately harmed by the failed war on drugs.”
The full list of licensees can be found here.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office announced the series of three lotteries last month to award the 185 new cannabis retail licenses.
The first lottery, held July 29, awarded 55 licenses to 53 firms selected from a pool of 625 finalists.
The third and final lottery will be held Aug. 19 to award 75 additional licenses.
The state also recently issued 69 craft grow, infuser and transporter licenses in an Aug. 2 announcement.
