“This deadline is the most urgent of all cannabis items at the moment.”
The Center Square by Andrew Hensel
The bill was signed by Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, made changes to licensing policies last week to ensure that the cannabis industry is treated equally.
Illinois has legalized adult cannabis sales since 2020. The state’s cannabis industry, even with a limited number of license holders, has generated hundreds of millions in taxes and billions in sales.
Senate Bill 1059 now law waives annual licensing fees for cannabis transportation organizations until January 1, 2027. Last month, during the fall veto sessions, advocates for cannabis businesses expressed their support for this measure .
Tiffany Ingram, of the Cannabis Business Association, said that the measure would help to address the increased number of applications.
Ingram stated, “We…are in favor of this measure as we are aware that the way that transportation licenses are issued every year is not in line with the work available.” There is a structural problem.
After Pritzker signed the bill on Friday, it went into effect.
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Peter Contos, Cannabis Equity Illinois, said that the measure would help to provide relief in the months ahead.
Contos, a legislator at the time, told lawmakers that “this is the most urgent deadline of all cannabis items because the Illinois Department of Agriculture must legally issue another round of transporter licenses by the end of the year.”
Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) says that the measure has three main purposes, one of which is to reduce application fees.
Hammond stated that between January 2024 and 2027 there would be no application fees for transporters.
Illinois is the third largest cannabis market in the country.
This article was originally published by The Center Square.
Illinois Marijuana Retailers set record for sales to residents of the state, selling most individual cannabis products in any month since launch
J.B. Pritzker.
The article Illinois Governor signs bill suspending fees for Marijuana Transporter License Application first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
