If you want to open a medical marijuana dispensary or growing center in Illinois, be prepared to open your wallet to your local government of choice.

Illinois’ fledgling medical marijuana industry is already starting to resemble a pay-to-play-style system in which those who want to operate freely must make special donations or share profits with local governments before they can set up shop.

Competition to become established in Illinois' medical marijuana business is already stiff. Under the pilot program created by the new state law, Illinois will allow a mere 60 marijuana dispensaries and 21 growing centers. And in addition to having to get a state license to operate, marijuana-related businesses have to get local permission before they can begin operating. But “local permission” may come at a high price.

The Chicago Tribune cited the following proposal from the city of McHenry:

“In the city of McHenry, which has endorsed a proposed cultivation center, officials are seeking 1.75 percent of net earnings in the first five years, then up to 3.5 percent in the following years. City officials also have requested that the business donate up to $10,000 a year for the McHenry Riverwalk and historic Petersen Farm.”

The Tribune also cited a proposal out of Elk Grove Village:

“In Elk Grove Village, no fewer than nine competing businesses have entered into preliminary agreements with the municipality. Should any win state approval to operate, the businesses each have agreed to donate up to $75,000 to local nonprofit groups and to fork over up to 5 percent of their gross sales to the village.”

These local costs are on top of the hefty fees the state charges these businesses.

Under proposed regulations for the pilot program, the state would require dispensaries to pay a $5,000 nonrefundable application fee, a $30,000 permit fee and a $25,000 annual permit renewal fee. Anyone wanting a dispensary permit will also have to show proof of $50,000 in escrow or bonds.

The application fee for growing centers is even steeper, at $25,000. Growing centers also have to pay a $200,000 fee after its permit is approved, plus a $100,000 renewal fee. Applicants would also have to prove that they have $2 million in escrow or bonds.

These fees and financial requirements greatly limit the number of people who can afford to open a business in a booming industry.

And the idea that local governments can require businesses to make big-sticker “donations” to select groups and take cuts from marijuana profits is unsettling.

This type of pay-to-play patronage serves only to invite corruption in a state plagued with too much of it already.

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