Changing Chicago's Consumption Laws

Right before the 2020 Pandemic, the Chicago City Council decided against zoning Cannabis Consumption Lounges despite it being legal in Illinois. Citing concerns about illegal cannabis vending, the mismatch of business types, and the disparity in opportunity between the North and the South/West Sides. All of this on top of an unhealthy dose of reefer madness. This has blocked many Chicagoans from opening their dream business: Cannabis Consumption Lounges.

3 years on, no action has been taken. By legalizing this industry, opportunities to enter the Cannabis Industry denied by limited licensing can be restored. With a substantially lower barrier to entry, we believe that those who have been excluded from the Illinois Cannabis Industry will have another opportunity to enter. We believe this is the best path forward for Chicago.

We ask the Chicago City Council to reconsider, and pass an ordinance for cannabis lounges in the City under the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

Making our Case

The City of Chicago has an opportunity to create an entirely new business to the Windy City.

The suburbs of Mundelein and Wheeling have taken the lead, Dispensary Style Cannabis Lounges have already been opened. Furthermore, in southern Illinois, the Town of Sesser has already zoned a Tobacco Store Style Lounge. We know that there are responsible, safe ways to open these businesses under current laws!

3 years on and with several operating stores already, critics have been completely wrong about predictions of "illegal smoke dens" and unviable businesses. Concerns about "recriminalization" are entirely irrelevant in creating a *legal* business. For those whose aim is social equity, why repeat the same mistakes of building exclusionary licensing?

The Illinois Cannabis Consumption Association needs your help in making connections and building up and out our organization. If you haven't already, please consider signing our petition to ask Chicago to pass this ordinance.