Cannabis Social Equity Program

Pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation & Tax Act (“CRTA”) 410 ILCS 705, cannabis became legal for adult use in Illinois on January 1, 2020. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) mission under the CRTA is to develop accessible opportunities for technical assistance and access to capital for persons seeking to participate in the Illinois cannabis business industry, subject to appropriations from the Cannabis Business Development Fund. 

DCEO established the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program for the purpose of providing financial assistance to social equity applicants.

Through the Illinois Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program, DCEO is committed to connecting people and communities that have been historically impacted by arrests and imprisonment for cannabis offenses to opportunities to participate in the legal cannabis industry.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that $8.75 million in Direct Forgivable Loans (DFL) fully financed by the State will be made available to all conditionally-approved social equity loan applicants in order to provide immediate access to capital.

• View a list of program participants who received funding during the first round of DCEO social equity loan program which was available to craft growers, transporters, and infusers.

Governor JB Pritzker and DCEO announced that applications for Round II of the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program are open. Through the program, $12 million is available through DFL fully financed by the State. Loan amounts, up to $240,000, will be provided to qualified, licensed social equity dispensaries.

• View a list of program participants who were selected to receive funding during the second round of DCEO social equity loan program, which was available to Qualified Social Equity Dispensaries (as certified by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)).