Illinois awards 55 social equity marijuana store licenses, though previous winners have struggled to open – Chicago Tribune*

The conditional winners announced this week must prove their eligibility under criteria that include coming from an economically disadvantaged area or having a prior low-level cannabis conviction, either personally or in their immediate family; Victims of gun violence are also eligible. But many social equity license holders haven’t been able to raise enough money to open. While the state awarded 192 new licenses in 2022, only 27 social equity-owned stores have opened.
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Fight Harder
2 years ago

Due to the recent Fed tightening and increased capital requirements, these new “equity” winners will soon find out that they will not be able to get a loan from a bank. It’s due to the business cycles, not racism. Loan standards are tightening all over the financial markets, and this loan classification is already deemed very risky. Maybe, if they dig hard enough, they can get assistance from a Private office or VC fund. I wish them the best, they are close to being their own boss.

Old Spartan
2 years ago

Social Equity = economic imbecility. Just because you are a minority doesn’t have anything to do with whether you have the ability to raise capital and run a business. There are plenty of minority entrepreneurs who know how to run a business, but this program does nothing to include the competent minority business owners into this industry. Totally misleading and a cruel hoax to the minority community. But this isn’t the first time is it?

Frank James
2 years ago
Reply to  Old Spartan

Sure isn’t… and the other side is “racist”, right?

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