WEEd.WeStillCan’tAgree

Emotions escalated at a community meeting in the 27th ward as reported in Block Club Chicago. The HAAAYY Group wants to convert Wallace’s Catfish Corner, 2800 W. Madison St. to a dispensary. Vocal residents called into the Afternoon

Willie J.R. Fleming, Executive Director of the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign speculated there are about 18,000 jobs tied up in the Illinois cannabis industry because of businesses being non-operational. According to the 2022 ANNUAL CANNABIS REPORT published by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 15% of employees in the state are African American and 11% are frontline and part-time employed.

Fleming and other panelists like Doug Kelly of Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition are part of a collective call to action for equity through changes in state policy. Kelly reflected on his disappointment with state lawmakers and expressed the last-minute changes to Senate Bill 1559 to address banning delta-8 regulations that derailed the cannabis reform bill causing it to miss the spring legislative deadline.

The needed reforms would have benefited craft growers with increased canopy space to 14,000 square feet from 5,000, drive through windows at dispensaries, badging standards for employees, updated HVAC requirements, allowing telehealth medical exams by licensed medical providers instead of physical exams, for example.

Mr. Kelly later amplified his message as a guest on the Corner Convo Podcast moving his message from the cannabis community to educate the public about what’s needed to get real equity out of Springfield; “we need to stick together and show these lawmakers we as a community want cannabis to be equitable,” he said. It is now left up to the fall veto session however del- ta-8 regulations could disrupt Chicago businesses and brands if the state decides to be heavy handed on the hemp derived compound. Even if the legislation passed it would have done nothing to support the access to capital all in the industry still face, until federal legalization or the S.A.F.E. Banking Act passes many companies are finding themselves moving towards adaptive fundraising and investment models.

Show with Atiba Buchanan and Darlene Hill on WVON 1690 to reject the dispensary.

While some are feeling the pinch of federal and state policy, local level tensions are just as complex. Emotions escalated at a community meeting in the 27th ward as reported in Block Club Chicago. The HAAAYY Group wants to convert Wallace’s Catfish Corner, 2800 W. Madison St. to a dispensary. Vocal residents called into the Afternoon Show with Atiba Buchanan and Darlene Hill on WVON 1690 to reject the dispensary.

Guest of the show and founder of the Garfield Park Chamber of Commerce Siri Hibbler said she supports HAAAAYY and “would like to help them find another location,” lifting up Lincoln Park as a possibility. Chicagoans have the right to prevent cannabis by petitioning the Office of the City Clerk for a Restricted Cannabis Zones at the precinct level. The property is located in 49th precinct. Chicago News Weekly checked the status of active notices of intent which included two for the 1st precinct in ward 23 which is in its comment period initiated by Rosaura Bocanegra and precinct 4 in ward 2 initiated by Amy Ringenbach, which has been rejected.

Details as to the reason for rejection were not published. There are 9 active cannabis petitions 3 of which have been rejected, four are in the 2nd ward. Currently Chicago has a total of 3 cannabis restricted zones and include the 23rd ward/26th precinct, the 2nd ward/42nd precinct and the 13th ward/13th precinct. Restricted zones are vital for entrepreneurs as they give a real time map of locations where the industry is not favored by the community members, saving time and resources. Ultimately the industry is stalled by both stigma and complicated by existing competing priorities.