When Illinois passed a law legalizing recreational cannabis in 2019, Gov. JB Pritzker promised a robust social equity program alongside it. More than three years later, the criminal records of hundreds of thousands of low-level drug offenders have been expunged, but the opportunities for them to profit from the new multi-billion dollar industry remain limited. Only a handful of dispensaries are owned and operated by equity applicants. The licensing process is slow, beset by delays that are costing potential dispensary owners lots of money. WBEZ Statehouse Reporter Alex Degman explains why.
