There is plenty of competition for licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois as part of the state’s Cannabis Pilot Program.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture reported all Illinois State Police districts (except District 15 Tollway) received applications for medical marijuana cultivation centers for a total of 159 submissions.
1 license will be awarded per district.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported a total of 214 applications for medical marijuana dispensaries.
60 licenses will be granted statewide.
Melaney Arnold, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said decisions on who receives licenses will be made by two panels of experts in policy, legal issues, and horticulture.
"Some of the things the applications will be scored on include a security plan, a business and operations plan, looking at record keeping, and inventory, a financial plan, as well as having some bonus categories,” Arnold said.
She said selections should be made by the end of the year.
Cultivation center application totals from west-central Illinois (by State Police district):
- District 7 – Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island counties: 6
- District 9 – Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon counties: 8
- District 14 – Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, Warren counties: 3
- District 20 – Adams, Brown, Pike, Schuyler, Scott counties: 6
Dispensary application totals from west-central Illinois (by State Police district):
- District 7 – Rock Island, Mercer, Knox, Henry counties: 1
- District 9 – Cass, Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon counties: 4
- District 14 – Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, Warren counties: 1
- District 20 – Adams, Brown, Pike, Schuyler, Scott counties: 2
