Medical Marijuana Lawsuit Focuses On Secret Permitting Process
CHICAGO (AP) -- The first lawsuit filed against the state of Illinois over medical marijuana continues with a hearing in Chicago about documents and secrecy.
A Cook County judge is expected to hear arguments Tuesday on what documents should be part of the case. A Chicago company called PM Rx is suing the Department of Agriculture, claiming the agency broke its own rules when awarding marijuana cultivation permits.
The permit process has been competitive and secretive. Illinois' medical marijuana law was written to make business applications exempt from public disclosure.
Last week, Judge Kathleen Kennedy granted a temporary restraining order that halted the sole permit from being granted in a region that covers Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee counties. The order stopped Chicago-based Cresco Labs from moving ahead with its marijuana operation in Kankakee.
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