Pubdate: Fri, 18 Apr 2014
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5QwXAJWY
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Becky Schlikerman

MEDICAL POT BUSINESS WON'T BE CHEAP

Those seeking to sell medical marijuana will need to pony up $5,000 
for a nonrefundable application fee; pay $30,000 for the registration 
fee; and have $400,000 in liquid assets. They also will need to be 
able to secure a $50,000 bond.

The cost to patients registering to use medical marijuana will be 
less than what state officials had first suggested, according to 
rules posted Friday by state agencies that will oversee 
implementation of the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.

But those seeking to open a medical marijuana dispensary or a 
cultivation center will need hundreds of thousands of dollars, 
according to those rules.

Illinois officials had posted preliminary rules for the 
implementation of the program and patient advocates balked at the 
cost of $150 for the annual application fee.

Now, in the revised rules, state officials say it will cost patients 
$100 a year for the annual application fee. The cost is $50 if the 
patient is a veteran or on Social Security Disability Income.

Some also were not pleased by the massive costs to those seeking to 
operate medical marijuana businesses, though the fees mostly remain 
the same in the amended rules.

Those seeking to sell medical marijuana will need to pony up $5,000 
for a nonrefundable application fee; pay $30,000 for the registration 
fee; and have $400,000 in liquid assets. They also will need to be 
able to secure a $50,000 bond.

Those seeking to grow the marijuana will have to pay $25,000 for a 
nonrefundable application fee and $200,000 for a permit, and they 
must have $500,000 in liquid assets. The previous proposed rules 
sought $250,000 in liquid assets.

The grower also will need to have the assets to secure a $2 million surety bond.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom