Alissa Jubelirer and Denis Yavorskiy Featured in Chicago Sun-Times | “Illinois’ cannabis transport license process discriminates against minority-owned businesses, lawsuit says”

Alissa Jubelirer, Of Counsel in Benesch’s Cannabis Industry Group, and Denis Yavorskiy, Managing Associate in the Group, were recently featured in the Chicago Sun-Times.

A group of seven minority- and women-owned cannabis transportation companies in Illinois has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Agriculture, alleging discriminatory practices that favored larger white, male-owned companies. The plaintiffs, including ACC of Illinois Transportation and Runway Logistics Services, claim the department issued expedited transporter licenses with relaxed compliance requirements to established cultivation centers, allowing them to handle their own cannabis transportation early on. This disadvantaged smaller, independent transporters, who faced longer application processes and delayed approvals. By the time these companies could enter the market, larger operators had already secured most market opportunities.

Benesch attorney Alissa Jubelirer, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s actions have directly harmed independent transporters, 68% of whom are minority- and women-owned businesses. This constitutes a clear case of disparate impact discrimination under the Illinois Civil Rights Act, and the plaintiffs deserve to be compensated for the financial harm they’ve suffered.”

Read the full article here.