ILLINOIS GOV. UNDER FIRE FOR LICENSING PROCESS

Illinois cannabis regulators face a flood of criticism and litigation over applicants who feel they were unjustly blocked from obtaining licenses.
WeedWeek

• At issue is a state lottery for 75 dispensary licenses. Twenty-one businesses qualified for the lottery out of 900 applicants. (Finalists can win more than one license.)
• “I’m honestly surprised that the state of Illinois hasn’t just willingly suspended the process, because at this point, they should recognize that they messed up – really bad,” unsuccessful applicant turned litigant Naomi Williams said. “They should be embarrassed by how bad they messed up.”
• Under fire, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said he would meet with stakeholders about the not yet scheduled lottery.
  Chicago Tribune

Separately, in Missouri, a memo prepared by state House Democrats found “credible allegations” that Gov. Mike Parsons (R) interfered in their investigation of the state’s MED program.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Quick Hit

1. The Boston Globe found Massachusetts has some of the country’s most expensive legal REC.