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SCAM ALERT: DCEO has been made aware of organizations receiving fraudulent “notice of award” letters claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These are not legitimate notices from DCEO. If your organization receives a notice, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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.