Photo by Daniel Norin on Unsplash

RJ Balde

TRICHOMES Staff

Of the state of Illinois' 36 craft growing permits issued last month, at least 10 were allocated to entities linked with established cannabis firms, whereas some went to active state politicians and a sprinkling of regional prominent figures.

Justice Grown, a multi-state operating company based in Chicago, is linked to four craft growing licensing obtainers, such as one for Justice Grown CEO Jon Loevy and one for Loevy's partner, Debra Loevy. Ron DiGiacomo, operator of Trinity MMJ Dispensaries in Peoria, Frank Park, CEO of Salem, Oregon producer A Prime Leaf, the Black-owned investment company Blounts & Moore, LaPine, Oregon-based producer Oregonix Farms, Starbuds creator Ahmad Joudeh, and Omar Fakouri, operator of Michigan's Skymint retail company, are among the other recipients of craft growing licenses.

Additionally, 3 licenses were awarded to legislators from the Chicago region, and a group formed by Evanston Alderman Bobby Burns also received licensure. Another permit went to Alex Acevedo, a Chicago governmental heir and former council candidate who is being investigated for tax violations. Acevedo was also a member of a group that was successful in obtaining a dispensary permit. Lori Wilcox, the Chicago Heights City Clerk and Bloomfield Township Democratic committee person, also received licensure.

Shari Wilson, the operator of the South Side Chicago establishment Reggio's Pizza, Rawle Stuart, the manager of rapper Twista, and Rick Ringold, the operator of Sergeant Construction in Mokina, Illinois, were also among the license recipients. Kiana Hughes, the newly appointed Interim Executive Director of Chicago NORML, GRI Holdings LLC, a company headed by high-end restaurant owner Phil Stephani, Marquita Hollins, a former member of Heartland Greens, which was among the first factions to pursue legal action upon the state's dispensary certification system, and Springfield firefighter and children's book writer Danual Berkley, were all also participants of winning teams for licensure.

As of the end of August, Illinois has had 110 authorized cannabis retailers since last April, with the Illinois state legislature approving the amount in May 2019. Those retailers have dominated the sector thus far, distributing an approximated $158 million in legalized cannabis in July 2020 alone.

The following are the leading cannabis dispensary operators in Illinois: Cresco/Sunnyside (10 dispensaries); Curaleaf (10 dispensaries); Green Thumb Industries/Rise (9 dispensaries); Verano, under ZenLeaf and additional brand names (10 dispensaries); PharmaCann/Verilife (8 dispensaries); and NuEra (6 dispensaries).