DISEASE AROUND THE WORLD,
INCLUDING COVID.
>>> HERE IN ILLINOIS, RECREATION
>>> HERE IN ILLINOIS, RECREATION
RECREATIONAL CANNABIS IS NOW A
BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS.
THE STATE PROMISED SOCIAL EQUITY
IN THE CANNABIS STRIZINDUSTRY.
FOR MANY, THAT MEANT A FRESH
START AT LIFE.
BUT A YEAR LATER, NOT ONE
BUT A YEAR LATER, NOT ONE
LICENSE HAS BEEN ISSUED UNDER
THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
NBC’S CHRIS HUSH REPORTS ON WHY.
>> USED TO BE A GANG MEMBER, I
>> USED TO BE A GANG MEMBER, I
EVEN SIT BEFORE YOU WITH BULLET
FREGMENTES IN MY FACE.
>> Reporter: PHILLIP CHANDLER
HAS COME A LONG WAY.
>> I WAS ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS,
I THINK I WAS, LIKE, 14 OR 15,
I THINK I WAS, LIKE, 14 OR 15,
ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.
>> Reporter: WHEN THE STATE
LEGALIZED CANNABIS, COULD YOU
WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT,
GIVEN YOUR PAST?
>> IT WAS DIFFICULT IN A WAY.
JUST THE PROCESS ITSELF.
JUST THE PROCESS ITSELF.
IT WASN’T JUST THE STIGMA OF,
WELL, NOW IT’S LEGAL, HOW DO WE
JUMP INTO IT, IT WAS ALSO THE
HURDLES YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH
WHEN APPLYING FOR IT.
>> Reporter: AND CHANDLER JUMPED
>> Reporter: AND CHANDLER JUMPED
OVER MANY, SPENDING COUNTLESS
HOURS APPLYING FOR A LICENSE
THAT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR A
BETTER LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY.
AFTER ALL, THAT WAS THE PURPOSE
OF THE STATE’S SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM IN THE CANNABIS
PROGRAM IN THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY, MAKING GOOD ON THE
HARMS BROUGHT ON BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS, BY OPENING UP
APPLICATIONS TO THOSE IN
DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES LIKE
CHANDLER.
INSTESHGSD AS OF NOW, ADULT USE
INSTESHGSD AS OF NOW, ADULT USE
LICENSES HAVE ONLY BEEN GRANTED
TO ESTABLISHED COMPANIES THAT
ALREADY HAD A FOOTPRINT IN THE
INDUSTRY THROUGH A MEDICAL
LICENSE, GIVING THEM A LEG UP
OVER EVERYONE ELSE.
OVER EVERYONE ELSE.
CHANDLER WAS EXPECTING AN ANSWER
IN MAY -- OF 2020.
>> WHENEVER YOU TELL BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES TO WAIT FOR
EQUALITY, WAIT FOR THEIR CHANCE,
IT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF CALLING
IT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF CALLING
THEM THE N-WORD.
>> Reporter: THAT’S HOW STRONGLY
YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD A
LOTTERY LAST YEAR, ISSUEING 75
LOTTERY LAST YEAR, ISSUEING 75
LICENSES, BUT DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, STE OFFICIALS SAY IT
DELAYED THAT PROCESS.
NOT TO MENTION OUT OF THE
THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS, MORE
THAN 2,000 ARE BEING ISSUED A
THAN 2,000 ARE BEING ISSUED A
SUPPLEMENTAL DEFICIENCY NOTICE
FOR MISSING OR POTENTIALLY
INCORRECT INFORMATION.
EACH APPLICANT THEN HAS TEN DAYS
TO RESPOND.
AFTER THAT, THE STATE SAYS A
AFTER THAT, THE STATE SAYS A
THIRD PARTY WILL HAVE TO REVIEW
EACH ONE AGAIN.
>> BECAUSE OF THE NDEMIC, DO
YOU BUY THAT?
>> IT’S A YEAR.
AND I DON’T THINK ANYTHING CAN
BE ATTRIBUTED TO COVID FOR AN
ENTIRE YEAR.
ENTIRE YEAR.
GOVERNMENT WAS STILL WORKING.
>> Reporter: BUT PAMELA ALTHOFF,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CANNABIS BUSINESS OF ILLINOIS,
IS LOOKING FOR THE LICENSES TO
BE GRANTED TO 110, EXPANDING THE
APPLICANT POOL.
>> I DO BELIEVE WE FINALLY HAVE
>> I DO BELIEVE WE FINALLY HAVE
THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
>> Reporter: A SPOKESPERSON FOR
GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAYS HE
SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL, ADDING
THAT THE CURRENT SUPPLEMENTAL
DEFICIENCY NOTICES ARE BEING
REVIEWED.
THE STATE WILL MAKE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT WHEN A STATE FOR
THE LOTTERY HAS BEEN DETERMINED.
CHANDLER HAS PICKED UP A
DELIVERY JOB AT AMAZON IN THE
MEANTIME, WHILE HE WAITS FOR HIS
SHOT AT A NEW LIFE.
SHOT AT A NEW LIFE.
>> I JUST HAVE TO MOVE ON UNTIL
I GET THE RESULTS.
THAT’S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN
DO, BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT’S
HAPPENED WITH CANNABIS, BILLS
DON’T STOP.