Illinois Marijuana Info IL Marijuana Info | Marijuana Info IL
Legally-operating medical marijuana businesses in Illinois are finding that it isn’t a simple task to get internet service. It appears that internet service providers aren’t sure if they can provide service. It took a lot of extra steps and frustration for PharmaCann dispensary to get service.
The state is also having issues boosting its patient-base, according to The Chicago Tribune. When PharmaCann’s compliance chief Jeremy Unruh inquired about internet service, he was told by the representative that they’d have to “ask the manager.”
Unruh said, “There’s this flurry of activity that starts with the account manager with a headset on in a cubicle. Can we do it? Can we not do it? How do we contract with a marijuana company?”
Unruh also said, “Engaging in normal business activities is made that much more complicated by the subject matter of what we do for a living.”
The blame for this is placed on the stigma that’s been created regarding marijuana that still federally classifies it as dangerous as LSD and heroin.
Some Illinois lawmakers, including Treasurer Michael Frerichs and federal lawmakers such as Elizabeth Warren, are working hard to make banking easier for legally operating marijuana businesses. Some banks, although the U.S. Department of Treasury says they can, still won’t work with legally operating marijuana businesses. Illinois is lucky enough to have a few banks that will work with these businesses.
Illinois lawmakers want to see the patient base increase, and are working to make it possible for more patients to be part of the state’s medical marijuana program. Bills are circulating the state’s Legislature to increase the list of qualifying conditions and make the program easier for patients to become part of. The struggles are real in Illinois, but baby-steps are slowly working to make the state’s program better – including making it easier for these businesses to have access to vital services like banking and Internet.
