Edie Moore on the Excitement Behind SWAY Dispensary’s Loan Application in Lakeview

Illinois officials announced plans to award nearly $32 million in loans to licensed cannabis companies, a move some business owners described as significant while others questioned whether it came too late to save struggling startups.

The loans, announced on Monday, April 21, 2026, may be up to 100% forgivable if recipients provide documentation for eligible business expenses, meaning companies likely will not have to repay the funds. Some companies were approved for multiple loans.

Edie Moore, co-founder of Chicago NORML and of SWAY dispensary in Lakeview, which applied for a loan, said the funding was exciting and significant. “It’s across all license types, so everybody who’s eligible hopefully will have a piece of that pie,” Moore stated.

The awards range from $50,000 per company for transporters to $245,000 each for dispensaries and infusers, and up to $750,000 for craft growers. In total, craft growers are set to receive nearly $19 million, followed by dispensaries with $9 million, infusers with $3 million, and transporters with $1 million.

Botavi Wellness, LLC, which operates Nirvana dispensaries, was in line to receive five loans, while Blounts&Moore LLC, operating Market 96, was approved for four. The amounts represent only a fraction of the millions of dollars typically required to open a dispensary or grow operation.

Despite the funding, some cannabis companies continue to face challenges in opening their businesses, highlighting ongoing difficulties within the state’s legal cannabis industry.