Business
MSOs oppose Illinois equity bill
The Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, whose membership includes several leading MSOs, opposes a bill that would expand the maximum canopy allowed at craft businesses largely owned by people of color, Grown In reports.
- The bill would enable craft businesses to have 14,000 feet of canopy, up from 5,000 today. Constricted to that size, the business doesn't work, growers say.
- CBAI's members include MSOs Cresco Labs, Verano, and PharmaCann which are based in Illinois and Acreage, Columbia Care and Curaleaf which are not.
- The group said that “in this truncated legislative session, the state should pause to properly assess where our industry stands rather than attempt to make incremental changes to an evolving industry. Our association will continue to support inclusion and diversity within the market."
- The story inspired at least one contentious thread on LinkedIn.
More:
- Sharp Capital Advisors CEO Stephen Miles previously described the state's licensing structure as a "state-mandated oligopoly."
WeedWeek - This episode of podcast The Take discusses the challenges around equity in Illinois.