Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Senior Advisor to the Governor Toi Hutchinson appeared before the committee to discuss HB1443.

Legislators on the House Executive Committee Friday morning probed Rep. LaShawn Ford's (D-Chicago) proposal to boost equity in the state's cannabis industry. The subject matter hearing touched on the efficacy of the lottery process, cutoffs for social equity scoring and ensuring racial justice through licensing, among other considerations.

Ford’s bill is one of dozens of proposals legislators have rolled out this year to restart cannabis licensing after the state’s botched rollout last year.