Section 1000.100  Permit Application

 

a)         A cultivation center permit shall be obtained for each facility prior to commencement of any production activities.  The permit shall, along with any other certificate, business license or other authorization required to conduct production activities, be posted in a conspicuous place within the facility.

 

b)         The Department shall accept applications for cultivation center permits for 14 calendar days after the date indicated on the Department's website as the commencement date for accepting applications. 

 

1)         Submissions shall be considered as submitted on the date on which they are postmarked or, if delivered in person during regular business hours, on the date on which they are so delivered or, if sent electronically, on the date received by the Department if received on or before 5 p.m. Central Time.  If received electronically after 5 p.m. Central Time, they will be considered received on the next day.

 

2)         Submissions received after the 14 day period or any way other than required in this subsection (b) shall be returned to the applicant.

 

3)         Notification of the availability of applications will be posted on the Department's website at www.agr.state.il.us/.  Application forms will be made available online at that website and may be completed online and submitted electronically to that website, at the discretion of the Department, or sent via U.S. mail to the address set forth in the application.

 

c)         The permit application shall be submitted on the forms provided by the Department. The forms will include instructions for their completion and submission. The application will reflect the information required of applicants by the Act and this Part and will include requests for information, plans, maps and other materials in support of the application needed by the Department to make its determination on the permit request. The instructions on the application will reflect the total maximum number of points that can be awarded for each required criteria, measure and bonus point category listed in Section 1000.110. The instructions/application will also identify the total minimum number of points necessary from the required criteria and measures to be eligible for consideration of the bonus point categories.  All applications will be reviewed and points awarded based upon the same point system in a fair and unbiased manner.  If all materials, documentations, fees and information required by the application form are not submitted, the application shall be returned to the applicant.  The applicant shall then have seven calendar days to resubmit the application in its entirety.  Once submitted, the required fee will not be returned. Upon receipt of an application deemed to be complete, the Department will engage in no further communication with the applicant until after the selection process is completed:

 

1)         Except as provided in Section 1000.110(g) and (h); and

 

2)         Unless the applicant has applied for zoning approval from the local zoning authority and the matter is pending before the authority.  The applicant may submit verification of compliance with the local zoning rules once a ruling is issued by the local zoning authority.  In no event, however, may the verification be submitted more than 60 days after the date of submission of the application to the Department.

 

d)         An applicant applying for a cultivation center permit shall submit, in duplicate, the following:

 

1)         The proposed legal name of the cultivation center;

 

2)         The proposed physical address of the cultivation center and description of the enclosed, locked facility as it applies to cultivation centers where medical cannabis will be grown, harvested, manufactured, packaged, or otherwise prepared for distribution to a dispensing organization;

 

3)         The name, address, and date of birth of each principal officer and board member of the cultivation center, provided that all those individuals shall be at least 21 years of age;

 

4)         Any instance in which a business that any of the prospective board members of the cultivation center had managed or served on the board of the business and was convicted, fined, censured, or had a registration or license suspended or revoked in any administrative or judicial proceeding;

 

5)         Cultivation, inventory, and packaging plans;

 

6)         Proposed operating by-laws (Operation and Management Practices Plan) that include procedures for the oversight of the cultivation center, development and implementation of a plant monitoring system, medical cannabis container tracking system, accurate record keeping, staffing plan, and security plan reviewed by the Illinois State Police that are in accordance with the rules issued by the Department of Agriculture under the Act.  A physical inventory shall be performed of all plants and medical cannabis containers on a weekly basis.  ISP may utilize the services of a private security contractor licensed by DFPR to assist with performing a security plan review;

 

7)         Experience with agricultural cultivation techniques and industry standards, including experience with the cultivation of agricultural or horticultural products, operating an agriculturally related business, or operating a horticultural business;

 

8)         Any academic degrees, certifications, or relevant experience with related businesses;

 

9)         The identity of every person, association, trust, producer backer, partnership, other entity or corporation having any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the cultivation center operation with respect to which the registration is sought. If the disclosed entity is a trust, the application shall disclose the names and addresses of the beneficiaries; (Section 85 of the Act)

 

10)        If a sole proprietorship, the name, residence and date of birth of the owner;

 

11)        If a partnership, the names and addresses of all partners, both general and limited (Section 85 of the Act) and any partnership or joint venture documents.

 

A)        For a domestic limited partnership, a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State dated within the last 60 days.

 

B)        For a foreign limited partnership, a certificate of Good Standing from the state of formation, a copy of the Certificate of Authority from the Illinois Secretary of State and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State dated within the last 60 days;

 

12)        If a limited liability partnership, the names and addresses of all partners, and any partnership or joint venture documents.

 

A)        For a domestic limited liability partnership, a copy of the Certificate of Limited Liability Partnership and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State dated within the last 60 days.

 

B)        For a foreign limited liability partnership, a certificate of Good Standing from the state of formation, a copy of the Certificate of Authority from the Illinois Secretary of State and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State dated within the last 60 days;

 

13)        If a corporation based in Illinois, a copy of the Articles of Incorporation and a copy of the Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Illinois Secretary of State or obtained from the Secretary of State's website within the last 60 days. If the corporation is a foreign corporation, a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, a copy of the Certificate of Good Standing from the state or country in which the corporation is domiciled, a copy of the Certificate of Authority from the Illinois Secretary of State and a Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State dated within the last 60 days.  If using an assumed name (d/b/a), a copy of the assumed name registration issued by the Secretary of State.  Additionally, applicants shall include the names and addresses of all stockholders and directors of the corporation (Section 85 of the Act);

 

14)        If a limited liability company:

 

A)        For a domestic limited liability company, a copy of the Articles of Organization, a copy of the Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Illinois Secretary of State or obtained from the Secretary of State's website within the last 60 days, and a listing of the members of the limited liability company and his, her, or its contact information.

 

B)        For a foreign limited liability company, a copy of the Articles of Organization and a Certificate of Good Standing from the state of organization, a copy of the Application for Admission to Transact Business in Illinois, along with a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, all dated within the last 60 days;

 

15)        If another type of business entity, the same or similar information, as applicable, to that listed in this subsection (d);

 

16)        Verification from the Illinois State Police that all background checks of the principal officer, board members, and registered agents have been conducted and those individuals have not been convicted of an excluded offense (Section 85 of the Act).

 

17)        A copy of the current local zoning ordinance to the Department and verification from the local zoning authority that the proposed cultivation center is in compliance with the local zoning rules issued in accordance with Section 140 of the Act (Section 85 of the Act).

 

A)        If the property is not owned but is currently leased by the applicant, the applicant shall provide: a copy of the lease; confirmation of land ownership; identification of any mortgagees and/or lienholders; a written statement from the property owner and/or landlord, certifying consent that the applicant may operate a cultivation center on the premises at least through December 31, 2017; and, if applicable, verification of notification by the property owner to any and all mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders that the property is to be used as a cultivation center at least through December 31, 2017, and consent thereto by any mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders.

 

B)        If the property is not owned or currently leased by the applicant, the applicant shall provide: a written statement from the property owner and/or landlord certifying consent that the applicant will lease or purchase the property for the purpose of operating a cultivation center until at least December 31, 2017; and, if applicable, verification of notification by the property owner to any and all mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders that the property is to be used as a cultivation center at least through December 31, 2017, and consent thereto by any mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders.

 

C)        If the property is owned by the applicant, the applicant shall provide:  confirmation of land ownership; identification of any and all mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders; and, if applicable, verification of notification to any and all mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders that the property is to be used as a cultivation center at least through December 31, 2017, and consent thereto by any mortgagees and/or perfected lienholders;

 

18)        A non-refundable application fee as set forth in Section 1000.140 for each application.  Each application for a particular District shall be a separate application requiring a separate fee;

 

19)        A location area map of the area surrounding the proposed cultivation center.  The map must clearly demonstrate that the proposed cultivation center is not located within 2,500 feet of the property line of a pre-existing public or private preschool or elementary or secondary school or day care center, day care home, group day care home, part day child care facility, or an area zoned for residential use (Section 105 of the Act);

 

20)        A plot plan of the cultivation center drawn to a reasonable scale.  If the cultivation center building is in existence at the time of the application, the applicant shall submit plans and specifications drawn to scale for the interior of the building.  If the building is not in existence at the time of application, the applicant shall submit a plot plan and a detailed drawing to scale of the interior and the architect's drawing of the building to be constructed;

 

21)        Documentation acceptable to the Department that the individual or entity filing the application has at least $500,000 in liquid assets.  Documentation acceptable to the Department includes a signed statement from an Illinois Licensed CPA attesting to proof of the required amount of liquid assets under the control of an owner or the entity applying. The statement must be dated within 30 calendar days before the date the application was submitted;

 

22)        Documentation acceptable to the Department that the individual or entity filing the application will be able to obtain insurance sufficient to indemnify and hold harmless the State and its officers and employees as required in Section 1000.50(b)(4)(B);

 

23)        All relevant financial information as set forth in Section 1000.200;

 

24)        The name of any agent-in-charge for each work shift;

 

25)        If currently or previously licensed or authorized in another state or jurisdiction to produce or otherwise deal in the distribution of cannabis in any form, the following:

 

A)        A copy of each such licensing/authorizing document verifying licensure in that state or jurisdiction;

 

B)        A statement granting permission to contact the regulatory agency that granted the license to confirm the information contained in the application; and

 

C)        If the license/authorization or application was ever denied, suspended, revoked or otherwise sanctioned, a copy of documentation so indicating, or a statement that the applicant was so licensed and was never sanctioned.

 

e)         The applicant shall sign a notarized statement certifying that:

 

1)         No prospective principal officer or board member has been convicted of an excluded offense in any state or country;

 

2)         The cultivation center will register with the Illinois Department of Revenue should the applicant be granted a permit;

 

3)         The application is complete and accurate; and

 

4)         The applicant has actual notice that, notwithstanding any state law:

 

A)        Cannabis is a prohibited Schedule I controlled substance under federal law;

 

B)        Participation in the program is permitted only to the extent provided by the strict requirements of the Act and this Part;

 

C)        Any activity not sanctioned by the Act or this Part may be a violation of State law;

 

D)        Growing, distributing or possessing cannabis in any capacity, except through a federally-approved research program, is a violation of federal law;

 

E)        Use of medical cannabis may affect an individual's ability to receive federal or State licensure in other areas;

 

F)         Use of medical cannabis, in tandem with other conduct, may be a violation of State or federal law;

 

G)        Participation in the program does not authorize any person to violate federal law or State law and, other than as set out in Section 25 of the Act, does not provide any immunity from or affirmative defense to arrest or prosecution under federal law or State law; and

 

H)        Applicants shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the State of Illinois for any and all civil or criminal penalties resulting from participation in the program.

 

5)         The Department has authority to include additional certifications in the application that would be sufficient to ensure compliance with the program and all other applicable laws.

 

6)         All of applicant's principal officers and producer backers expressly agree to be subject to service of process in Illinois with a current Illinois address on file with the Department.

 

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 5363, effective March 25, 2015)