Illinois legalized cannabis with equity at its core in 2020. Making reparationsThe CRTA directs 25 percent of Illinois’ cannabis tax revenue–among the highest in the nation–to social equity programs. They also were eligible for reduced application fees and additional loan opportunities through the Cannabis Social Equity Loan program, which provides state-financed Direct Forgivable Loans to cannabis entrepreneurs. The rollout of the social equity program was plagued by delays due to a high volume of applications, legal challenges to the selection process and the unforeseeable disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic. The first social equity dispensaries did not open until late 2022, while only 64 percent of licensed social equity dispensaries are operational as of January 2026.