Social Equity Applicant Criteria

The Cannabis Regulation & Tax Act (CRTA) 410 ILCS 705 establishes criteria for Social Equity Applicants as follows:

• Has at least 51% ownership and control by one or more individuals who:
  • Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA) Residency Eligibility.
    • have resided for at least 5 of the preceding 10 years in a DIA; or
    • at the time of the Licensee’s application for licensure, had a minimum of 51% ownership and control of the Licensee and had resided for 5 of the preceding 10 years in a DIA (view a map of Disproportionately Impacted Areas); or
  • Criminal History Eligibility.  Have been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for cannabis-related offenses eligible for expungement, including cannabis possession up to 500 grams or intent to deliver up to 30 grams; or
  • Member of Impacted Family Eligibility. Have a parent, child, or spouse that has been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for cannabis-related offenses eligible for expungement, including possession up to 500 grams or intent to deliver up to 30 grams.
  • Workforce Social Equity Criteria Eligibility. Has more than 10 full-time employees, and more than half of those employees:
    • Currently reside in a Disproportionately Impacted Area (view a map of Disproportionately Impacted Areas); or
    • Have been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for cannabis-related offenses eligible for expungement, including cannabis possession up to 500 grams or intent to deliver up to 30 grams; or
    • Have a parent, child, or spouse that has been arrested for, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for cannabis-related offenses eligible for expungement, including possession up to 500 grams or intent to deliver up to 30 grams.

Note: The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) are the entities responsible for licensure and social equity certification.