Section 1290.70 Selection Criteria

Section 1290.70  Selection

Criteria

a)         Applicants must submit all required

information, including that required in Section 1290.50.  Failure by an

applicant to submit all required information may result in the application

being disqualified.

b)         If the Division receives an application

with missing information, the Division may issue a deficiency notice to the

applicant. The applicant shall have seven calendar days from the date of the deficiency

notice to resubmit the incomplete information. Applications that are still

incomplete after this opportunity to cure will not be scored and will be

disqualified.

c)         The Division will award points to

administratively complete applications based on the clarity, organization and

quality of the applicant's responses to required information. Applicants will

be awarded points according to the following categories:

1)         Suitability of the Proposed Dispensary

A)        A demonstration that the proposed location

is suitable for public access, the layout promotes safe dispensing of medical

cannabis, it is sufficient in size, power allocation, lighting, parking,

handicapped accessible parking spaces, ADA accessible entry and exits, product

handling, and storage.

B)        A statement of

reasonable assurance that the issuance of a registration

will not have a detrimental impact on the community

.

2)         Security and Recordkeeping

A)        The security plan will demonstrate the

capability for the prevention of the theft or diversion of medical cannabis.

The security plan will demonstrate safety procedures for dispensary employees,

patients, provisional patients, OAPP participants and caregivers, and safe

delivery and storage of cannabis and currency. It will demonstrate compliance

with all security requirements in this Part.

B)        A plan for recordkeeping, tracking and

monitoring inventory, quality control and other policies and procedures that

will promote standard recordkeeping and discourage unlawful activity

s,

patients, provisional patients, OAPP participants and caregivers, and safe

delivery and storage of cannabis and currency. It will demonstrate compliance

with all security requirements in this Part.

B)        A plan for recordkeeping, tracking and

monitoring inventory, quality control and other policies and procedures that

will promote standard recordkeeping and discourage unlawful activity.  This

plan will include the applicant's strategy to communicate with the Division and

ISP on the destruction and disposal of cannabis.

3)         Applicant's Business Plan, Financials and Operating

Plan

A)        The business plan shall describe, at a

minimum, how the dispensing organization will be managed on a long-term basis.

This shall include a description of the State verification system, dispensing

organization's point of sale system, Illinois Cannabis Tracking System, purchases

and denials of sale, confidentiality, and products and services to be offered.

B)        The financial plan shall describe, at a

minimum, the source of the $400,000 liquid asset requirement and the amount and

source of the organization's equity and debt commitment to ensure financial

stability, including a demonstration of the immediate and long-term financial

health and resources for the design, development and operation of the

dispensary.

C)        The operating plan shall include, at a

minimum, a timetable that provides an estimated time from authorization through

year one of registration and the assumptions used as the basis for those

estimates. It will include best practices for day-to-day dispensary operation

and staffing.

4)         Knowledge and Experience

A)        The applicant's principal officers must

demonstrate experience and qualifications in business management or experience

with the medical cannabis industry. This includes ensuring optimal safety and

accuracy in the dispensing and sale of cannabis

is for those

estimates. It will include best practices for day-to-day dispensary operation

and staffing.

4)         Knowledge and Experience

A)        The applicant's principal officers must

demonstrate experience and qualifications in business management or experience

with the medical cannabis industry. This includes ensuring optimal safety and

accuracy in the dispensing and sale of cannabis.

B)        The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of

various cannabis product strains or varieties, and describe the types and

quantities of products planned to be sold.  This includes confirmation of

whether the dispensary plans to sell medical cannabis paraphernalia or edibles.

d)         The Division will award bonus points for

preferred, but not required, initiatives based on the applicant's ability to

meet requirements in the following categories:

1)         Labor and Employment Practices: The

applicant may describe plans to provide a safe, healthy and economically beneficial

working environment for its agents, including, but not limited to, codes of

conduct, healthcare benefits, educational benefits, retirement benefits, and

living wage standards.

2)         Research Plan: The applicant may provide

the Division with a detailed proposal to conduct, or facilitate, a scientific

study or studies related to the medicinal use of cannabis. The applicant may

include in its proposal a detailed description of:

A)        The methodology of the study to accurately

assess the effects of cannabis;

B)        The issues to be studied;

C)        The methods that will be used to identify

and select study participants;

D)        The identity of each person or organization

associated with the study, including the role of each;

E)        The duration of the study and anticipated

peer review; and

F)         The intended use of the study results

tudy to accurately

assess the effects of cannabis;

B)        The issues to be studied;

C)        The methods that will be used to identify

and select study participants;

D)        The identity of each person or organization

associated with the study, including the role of each;

E)        The duration of the study and anticipated

peer review; and

F)         The intended use of the study results.

3)         Community Benefits Plan: The applicant may

provide a description of plans the applicant has to support the local

community, the class of citizens served,

or a plan for reduction in product costs for indigent patients that

qualify

.

4)         Substance Abuse Prevention Plan: The

applicant may provide a detailed description of any plans it will take to

combat substance abuse in its District, including the extent to which the

applicant will partner or work with existing substance abuse programs.

5)         Local Community/Neighborhood Report:  The

applicant may provide comments, concerns or support received regarding the

potential impact of the proposed location on the local community and

neighborhood.

6)         Environmental Plan:  The applicant may

demonstrate an environmental plan of action to minimize the carbon footprint,

environmental impact, and resource needs for the dispensary.

7)         Verification of Minority-Owned, Female-Owned,

Veteran-Owned or Disabled Person-Owned Business: The minority, female, veteran

or disabled applicants must own at least 51% of the entity applying for

registration. The percentage totals may include any combination of minority, female,

veteran or disabled applicants. The minority, female, veteran or disabled

applicant must also share in control of management and day-to-day operations of

the dispensary

wned or Disabled Person-Owned Business: The minority, female, veteran

or disabled applicants must own at least 51% of the entity applying for

registration. The percentage totals may include any combination of minority, female,

veteran or disabled applicants. The minority, female, veteran or disabled

applicant must also share in control of management and day-to-day operations of

the dispensary. Documentation must be submitted at the time of application that

demonstrates the respective status of the applicant,

including, but not limited to,

certification under the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and

Persons with Disabilities Act [30 ILCS 575] for minority, female or disabled

person applicants, or a DD214 for veteran applicants. For purposes of this subsection,

minority, female, and disabled shall be defined as found in Section 2 of the

Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act

[30 ILCS 575/2].

8)         Illinois Based Applicants: Documentation

that the applicant's principal place of business is headquartered in Illinois,

including the names, addresses and verification of the applicant's proposed agents

that reside in Illinois. The applicant may also provide a plan for generating

Illinois-based jobs and economic development.

e)         The Division may verify information

contained in each application and accompanying documentation to assess the

applicant's character and fitness to operate a dispensary

llinois,

including the names, addresses and verification of the applicant's proposed agents

that reside in Illinois. The applicant may also provide a plan for generating

Illinois-based jobs and economic development.

e)         The Division may verify information

contained in each application and accompanying documentation to assess the

applicant's character and fitness to operate a dispensary. In addition to the

qualifications required in the Act and this Part, the Division may not grant an

authorization or registration unless

it is satisfied

that the applicant is:

1)         A person of good character,

honesty and integrity;

2)         A person whose background,

including criminal record, reputation, habits and social or business

associations, does not discredit or tend to discredit public confidence and

trust in the Illinois medical cannabis industry or the State of Illinois, or

pose a threat to the public health, security, safety, morals, good order and general

welfare of the State of Illinois;

3)         A person who does not create or

enhance the dangers of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods and

activities in the conduct of owning a medical cannabis dispensary;

4)         A person who does not present

questionable business practices and financial arrangements incidental to the

conduct of owning a medical cannabis dispensary or otherwise;

5)         A person who, either

individually or through employees, demonstrates business ability and experience

to establish, operate and maintain a business for the type of license for which

application is made; and

6)         A person who does not associate

with, either socially or in business affairs, or employ, persons of notorious

or unsavory reputation or who have extensive police records, or who have failed

to cooperate with an officially constituted investigatory or administrative

body

erience

to establish, operate and maintain a business for the type of license for which

application is made; and

6)         A person who does not associate

with, either socially or in business affairs, or employ, persons of notorious

or unsavory reputation or who have extensive police records, or who have failed

to cooperate with an officially constituted investigatory or administrative

body.

f)         The Division may, in its discretion, refuse

to issue an authorization to any applicant:

1)         Who

is unqualified to perform the duties required of the applicant;

2)         Who fails to disclose or states falsely any

information called for in the application;

3)         Who has been found guilty of a violation of

the Act, or whose

medical cannabis dispensary or

cultivation center license was

suspended, restricted, revoked or denied

for just cause in any other state; or

4)         For any other just cause.

g)         Should the applicant be awarded an authorization,

the information and plans provided in the application become a condition of the

authorization. Dispensing organizations have a duty to disclose any material

changes to the application.  All changes shall be equal to or better than the

original information or plans.  Failure to comply with the conditions or

requirements in the application may subject the dispensing organization to

discipline, up to and including suspension or revocation of its authorization

by the Division.  Revocation of an authorization shall serve as a final

administrative decision by the Division.