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* From the state license application to be a principal officer of an adult use cannabis dispensing organization…
Have you ever been a principal officer, manager, board member or owner of a business or not-for-profit organization, other than a cannabis business, that had its license or registration fined, censured, suspended or revoked? This does not include non-disciplinary or non-public administrative orders. If yes, provide the name, address, type of business, and an explanation of the discipline below.
* While this person would not be disqualified under that language, the oppo doesn’t look so great…
For nearly three years, Jeffrey Rehberger has fought the state of Illinois’ attempts to take away his company’s lucrative video-gambling license.
Gambling regulators say Rehberger’s Lucky Lincoln Gaming violated state law, doing business in a way “that would discredit or tend to discredit the Illinois gaming industry or the state of Illinois,” records show.
And they also allege Rehberger engaged in “witness harassment” to try to get a former sales representative to change his testimony against him in an Illinois Gaming Board investigation.
But those big licensing problems with the gaming board did not prevent Rehberger from putting himself in prime position to cash in on the huge, new state-regulated bonanza — cannabis dispensary licenses.
Go read the rest, particularly the part about the armed robbery.
* Meanwhile…
After serving as one of Illinois’ top cannabis regulators, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen confirmed Tuesday she has an ownership stake in a company vying for the right to open multiple pot shops across the state.
A spokeswoman for Degnen told the Sun-Times Tuesday the commissioner is part owner of Americanna Dream and was paid a stipend to write dispensary applications for the company.
The Highland Park-based firm submitted 17 perfect applications, beating out hundreds of other applicants to become a finalist in the state competition for the next round of dispensary licenses. The company has the maximum 10 spots in a lottery that will determine the winners of the 75 new licenses, each of which will likely be worth millions of dollars.
But Degnen’s ownership stake isn’t worth anything unless the company wins a license, according to her spokeswoman, who wouldn’t confirm how much Degnen’s been paid so far or what percentage of the company she owns.
The Chicago Democrat — who represents the county’s 12th District and campaigned on a promise to serve as a “full-time” commissioner — also issued a statement Tuesday defending her work for the “majority Black-owned social equity dispensary applicant.”
Breaking her promise to voters is not good, particularly since she whacked her opponent hard for his outside work. But it’s not legally disqualifying. And articles that use the term “dope shop” and claim that Degnan was “flooded” with a total of not even $20,000 in contributions (without mentioning she’s raised a total of $448K) tend to undermine their impact in my eyes.
People are making a whole lot of claims off the record about that operation. If they’re right about even half of it, I could definitely see serious trouble ahead. But, so far, nothing has emerged that proves anything particularly nefarious aside from a broken campaign promise.
* Related…
* Illinois Hits New Marijuana Milestone With $100 Million In Tax Revenue Collected Since Sales Began
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 10:58 am
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Wow. I always thought that the video gaming system for obtaining licenses was a crock because of Rehberger. He previously owned a vending machine company that had these machines in bars for “entertainment”. Yet our bars admitted they were illegally paying out. How he ever received a license in the first place is a mystery.
Comment by Highland Il Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 11:47 am
Plus I noticed that Rehberger is still registered to vote out of a building that is only a garage in a subdivision I believe he helped develop. How does this pass the smell test?
Comment by Highland IL Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 11:54 am
What a bang up job by KPMG.
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 12:06 pm
So, has anyone figured out who approved KPMG yet? Definitely would love to know who that was, and to see the correspondence between the parties before, during, and after this process? I said from the beginning that Illinois would mess this whole process up. Lots of culpability to go around, but definitely most of this falls squarely on Christian Mitchell and Toi Hutchison. At what juncture do you recognize a problem, cut your losses, and pick some new captains for this ship?
Comment by ;) Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 12:23 pm
I wonder if she has some revolving door issues with the State
Comment by Unionman Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 12:27 pm
Nothing wrong with Degnen’s consulting work or stipend. She’s allowed to do other things. Her county job is part time and state legislation prohibits state electeds or officials from applying for cannabis licenses but not others.
Comment by North Side Reformer Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 12:48 pm
===I wonder if she has some revolving door===
LOL
Nope.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 1:30 pm
=== her county job is part time and state legislation prohibits state electeds or officials from applying for cannabis licenses but not others ===
Except for the fact that she campaigned on being a full-time cook county commissioner. And if anyone thinks it doesn’t stink that the former top cannabis person at IDNR got herself onto a deal and spent weeks dodging questions from the media about it, then get your nose checked.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 4:25 pm
The Fritchey crew is out in force today I see.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 4:30 pm
==Lucky Lincoln Gaming==
I’m surprised that name hasn’t been already taken by a Springfield video gaming parlor.
Either that or “Lucky Abe” or “Lucky Mary” gaming.
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 7:41 pm
There’s only sizzle here if Degnen had inside knowledge. Otherwise it’s just a bad look that a current white elected and former cannabis regular may get very rich from cannabis in a few months. The governor’s people put up a lot of screens to stop stuff like this, but can’t stop it all. The Black and Latino caucuses can make a to do of it. We’ll see.
Comment by Northside Reformer Wednesday, Oct 14, 20 @ 10:26 pm