If you work in the Illinois cannabis industry, then you probably received a request from the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer (CROO) to complete the 2023 industry employee survey. If not, please contact CROO at fpr.croo@illinois.gov for more information and a direct link to the survey.

CROO is required by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to assess diversity in the medical and adult use cannabis industry in Illinois. This survey supports CROO efforts to reduce or eliminate barriers to entry, including access to capital. Previous survey results can be found here.

The employee survey is:

• Anonymous and your responses will not be shared with your employer.
• 5 to 10 minutes long.
• Will only be reported in aggregate so your responses are fully confidential.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act mandates that CROO survey the Illinois cannabis industry annually to assess the diversity of the owners and employees in the industry, as well as the contractors/subcontractors working with the industry. Further, the survey results are used to learn what barriers exist in the industry that would create challenges for anyone to enter the business market and to identify methods for reducing or eliminating any of those barriers.

According to the email letter, CROO “is dedicated to working with the community and the industry to ensure diversity and inclusion in the cannabis market and this survey is critical to the continued demonstration of our shared commitment to equity. Your responses are of the utmost importance for the continued success and improvement of the cannabis industry in Illinois. Your time and input are very much appreciated.”

CROO surveyed the industry in both 2020 and 2021. In 2021, the CROO updated the methodology and divided the survey into three parts: (1) to the firms that operate the cannabis licenses at a corporate level, (2) to cannabis employees, and (3) to ancillary businesses that provide services to the licensees. The new approach allows employees and contractors to self-identify their demographics and experiences. The CROO partnered with the University of Illinois Gies School of Business to update the survey to be more user-friendly and usable for collecting the information.

The information to be collected shall be designed to identify the following:

(1) the number and percentage of licenses provided to Social Equity Applicants and to businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities;

(2) the total number and percentage of employees in the cannabis industry who meet the criteria in (3)(i) or (3)(ii) in the definition of Social Equity Applicant or who are minorities, women, veterans, or people with disabilities;

(3) the total number and percentage of contractor and subcontractors in the cannabis industry that meet the definition of a Social Equity Applicant or who are owned by minorities, women, veterans, or people with disabilities, if known to the cannabis business establishment; and

(4) recommendations on reducing or eliminating any identified barriers to entry, including access to capital, in the cannabis industry.

For more Illinois cannabis industry news, visit here.

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To qualify and receive a medical patient card at a discounted rate, visit here.