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A long-awaited change to allow craft cannabis growers to expand should bring consumers more choice, but may still not be enough for businesses to open or make a profit.
A rule change in December by the Illinois Department of Agriculture allows craft growers to immediately expand from the current limit of 5,000 square feet of flowering plant space to 14,000 square feet.
“It helps,” said Scott Redman, president of the Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association. “But it doesn’t really solve the financial hurdles craft growers are facing. 14,000 square feet is really a minimum they need to have any kind of chance.”
By expanding capacity, growers say, they should have a better chance of getting financing to enlarge or open their businesses. They also would be better able to supply dispensaries statewide with new strains.
Many growers say they would prefer a new law to codify their ability to expand, rather than an administrative rule that leaves the decision up to state regulators. Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer Erin Johnson previously said she supports such legislation to do so. But state lawmakers failed to act previously, and it remains to be seen whether there is enough support to do so this year. [Read More @ The Chicago Tribune]
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