Illinois marijuana legalization proposal unclear on what information about pot companies could be kept secret

Since its inception, the Illinois medical marijuana program has been shrouded in secrecy, with the government denying requests for information about who owns the grow houses and dispensaries.

Lawmakers had said they would rectify that issue when it came to legalizing marijuana for recreational use — but the proposed law appears in part to maintain secrecy for organizations applying to operate retail pot stores.

On page 150 of the 533-page bill, the measure states that all application information for adult-use dispensing organizations, down to their addresses, is exempt from the state Freedom of Information Act and “not subject to disclosure.”

All complaints and investigations of the retail stores, except for criminal records, also would be kept secret under the proposal.

The passage seems to conflict with a later section governing licensed cannabis businesses, which states that all cannabis business applications to the state are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Illinois’ marijuana market could rival Colorado’s in the coming years, report finds »

Lawmakers have said that their proposal to legalize marijuana in Illinois is supposed to be transparent, so the public knows who owns cannabis businesses here. So the bill’s main sponsors, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy and state Sen. Heather Steans, issued a statement Tuesday that they are looking into the apparent discrepancy. [Read More @ Chicago Tribune]