JbCannabisCorruption

the corruption by the numbers

12 Politicians

32% by 1 White Man

From Governor Pritzker to the Madigans, on down to a former Republican director, there's insider connections and corruption at every level of Illinois government.

32% by 1 White Man

Matt Estep, shareholder and former partner of the multi- billion dollar conglomerate, publicly traded Green Thumb Industries and partner of Bosworth Capital received 32% of all perfect scores.

76% by 6 Insiders

32% by 1 White Man

76% by 6 Insiders

Matt Estep is linked to 3 companies that received 109 perfect scores. Democrat Bridget Degnen is linked to 35 perfect scores. Revoked casino license owner, Jeff Rehberger is linked to 66 applications. Three other insiders control 59 perfect scores. Collectively, these millionaires, politicians, and former "top cops" received 76% of the perfect scores.

How Big Money & Politicians Committed Fraud on Social Equity

The Top

J.B. Pritzker said that two-thirds of the successful applicants were firms owned primarily by people of color. He's a lie! This site is dedicated to showing the massive fraud committed by politicians (mostly Democrats that chase the black and brown vote and then rape them), multi-millionaire companies, industry insiders, a deep pocketed law firm, multiple investment firms, two ex top cops, relatives, and a few mid level players.

The Plan

The plan was to use black and brown people to vote and support Pritzker's gubernatorial election, with the promise of legalizing recreational cannabis and creating opportunities in the industry for black and brown businesses most impacted by the systemic racist war on drugs carried out by law enforcement and the judicial system at the orders of politicians. This is what JB said, "When we're done with this process, we will have the largest percentage ownership by people of color anywhere in the nation." HE LIED! This process is egregiously scandalous, full of "Trumpesque" style scum, and damaging to the community it was supposed to benefit. They robbed black and brown communities of their investments and hard work, only to allow mostly large corporations with front people to reap all the licenses. Their plan worked as they intended - continue to keep black and brown people poor while increasing white generational wealth. We have our own plan - to expose this fraud and demand reparations by way of entry into this industry in return for the decades of harm, injustice, and devastation to our people and community.

The Theft

From the moment Harry Anslinger criminalized cannabis and intentionally associated this government sanctioned scam to black and brown people; despite the fact that drug use among people of color and whites is statistically very similar, the amount of people of color incarcerated is much higher, making up 40% of the American Prison population while only making up 12.6% of the entire American population. We were arrested at 4-11 times the rate of white people. African Americans and Hispanics were the face of cannabis when it was a criminal enterprise. Now that there are billions to be made in this industry, government and big white businesses are looking to steal the wealth that should belong to the victims of these racially targeted policies. They are stealing our opportunity at economic empowerment. Imagine that, not only do you commit atrocities against a people by the methods employed to fight the war on drugs in America which work to deplete social welfare of black and brown communities through the use of discriminatory rhetoric, increasingly harsh and racially targeted policies, and prejudicial enforcement and mobilization of these policies, which reinforced the existing systems of control and domination in North American society.

The state top

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D)

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Former IL State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D)

JB's family has been on Forbes richest families list since its inception in the 1980's. He's an attorney and now governor. He's smart and he understands generational wealth because he is a beneficiary. He also understands power. Thus, he must think we are stupid. JB has direct connections to the players below. He's knowingly committing fraud on generations of black and brown families by allowing 9 large companies to control 76% (258/338) of the winning applications. These large companies are connected to politicians he directly works with, they are connected to large out-of-state operators, they're interconnected. This man knows that a company that pays $2,500 for 38 applications does not fit the profile of what we imagine a social equity applicant to be. He knows what has taken place, and he knows who gave the directive! His wife, Mary Kathryn (MK) Pritzker served on the board of Cresco Labs.

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Former IL State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D)

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Former IL State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D)

Toi Hutchinson, appointed the new Illinois cannabis regulation oversight officer, was illegally given the role dubbed cannabis "pot" czar. Appointing her to the job created in legislation she voted on runs afoul of the state constitution. The constitution bars members of the General Assembly from being appointed to a public office which shall have been created or the compensation for which shall have been increased by the General Assembly during that term. She has done very little, has no care in her role, and remains silent as white corporations are allowed to come in and steal opportunities of generational wealth building from black and brown communities.

Toi's title is now "Senior Adviser to the Governor on Cannabis Control."

We have a black woman in a position of power, yet she is complicit in this fraud. She should be outraged with what is happening to black and brown communities. She is also a very intelligent person. She understands completely what has happened. However, what does she care now that she's made it into the high earners club with her close to a quarter million dollar salary?

Toi's office should have been the one doing this work. She's parading around the state vouching for this corruption and falsely claiming that these are majority social equity applicants. They are not!

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Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Brandon Purcell works for IDFPR as the Chief Operating Officer. He worked for County Commissioner and former IDFPR Deputy Director for medical cannabis, Bridget Degnen. He helped secure the $4.2M dollar NO-BID contract for KPMG. He is connected to EHR Holdings that received 5 perfect scored applications.

The former IDFPR Director, Divis

The former IDFPR Director, Division of Professional Regulation, Jay Stewart, worked with Ross Morreale, the brother-in-law to Former IL Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R) to help GRI Holdings apply for 25 perfect applications. GRI Holdings has ex- Police Commander and past McDonald's Operator Thomas Wheeler Jr, Chicago Transit Authority, VP of Purchasing and Warehouse, John Trodder, and former Director of Operations for the Illinois House Republican Organization, Ashley Berry.

Attorney Jordan Matyas is a former IDFPR lobbyist that worked with Dealership LLC, Clean Slate Opco LLC, and V3 Illinois LLC, for a total of 109 perfect scores.

Together IDFPR connections account for 139 perfect applications or 41%.

Tara Meyer (Byrne ) is Chief of Staff/General Counsel for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen. Tara worked for IDFPR for almost 5 years, and was Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis for one year from 2017-2018, replacing Bridget Degnen in October 2017.

Collectively, five IDFPR employees are linked to this fraudulent application process.

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the politicians connected to the top white applicants

Bridget Degnen, IL Medical Cannabis Regulator & Cook County Commissioner (D)

Serving as Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis at the IDFPR, the state agency issuing the dispensary licenses for four years from 2013-2017 and Cook County Board Commissioner, representing District 12 in Illinois. Degnen has direct connections to the Governor and deep inside access to the IDFPR. She's also the longtime neighbor of Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. Her winning application under AmeriCanna Dream is an affiliate of Unlimited Brand Holdings out of California. Bridget received 36 perfect scores and has 36 shots in the lottery. Her partner Adam Saffro is linked to New Era Capital which is linked to Sammy Dorf of Verano Holdings - a large cannabis company sold to a conglomerate in Phoenix for $850 Million.

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Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Mike Madigan (D)

Bridget Degnen, IL Medical Cannabis Regulator & Cook County Commissioner (D)

Mike Madigan (D) is the father-in-law to Jordan Matyas, the former IDFPR licensing attorney that's tied to V3 Illinois Vending that received 33 perfect scores. V3 Illinois is also connected to Clean Slate and and Dealership via ACFB incorporated and Matt Estep. Collectively, they received 109 perfect scored applications.

Attorney General of Illinois Lisa Madigan (D)

Bridget Degnen, IL Medical Cannabis Regulator & Cook County Commissioner (D)

Attorney General of Illinois Lisa Madigan (D)

Former AG Lisa Madigan (D) is the sister-in-law to Jordan Matyas, the former IDFPR licensing attorney that's tied to V3 Illinois Vending that received 33 perfect scores. V3 Illinois is also connected to Clean Slate and and Dealership via ACFB incorporated and Mike Estep. Collectively, they received 109 perfect scored applications.

IL State Rep Bob Morgan, 58th District (D)

Attorney General of Illinois Lisa Madigan (D)

As the first statewide project coordinator for the State of Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, Bob Morgan was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to develop and implement a regulatory framework for the use of cannabis by eligible patients. He is a Partner at Benesch Law, that's responsible for 111 applications tied to Clean Slate, Dealership LLC, V3 Illinois and Paul Rosenfeld's group.

47th Ward Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld (D)

IL State Rep Bob Morgan, 58th District (D)

47th Ward Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld (D)

Paul Rosenfeld, (Lobbyist) applied for and received 8 applications in the lottery. Paul is a state lobbyist, his company Governmental Navigation Group is owner of HQ Chicago. Les Bond, a prominent investment banker and CEO at Attucks Asset Management, is also an owner with HQ Chicago.

Former IL Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R)

IL State Rep Bob Morgan, 58th District (D)

47th Ward Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld (D)

Former Republican Illinois State Rep McAuliffe is the brother-in-law to Ross Morreale, who is tied to GRI Holdings and is co-founder of the lucrative medical marijuana company Ataraxia and former chairman of the Medical Cannabis Alliance of Illinois. Ross Morreale is the brother of Kim Morreale - married to McAuliffe. Kim served as director of IDOT. Their uncle is RA for applicant GRI.

Deputy Governor of Illinois, Dan Hynes (D)

Degnen Chief of Staff /General Counsel Tara Meyer former Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis at the IDFPR

Deputy Hynes is the next door neighbor of Bridget Degnen and works for Governor JB Pritzker.

Degnen Chief of Staff /General Counsel Tara Meyer former Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis at the IDFPR

Tara Meyer is Chief of Staff/General Counsel for Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen. She also worked at the IDFPR as their Assistant General Counsel, Director of Procurement and Operations, and Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis. She has been an IDFPR Cannabis Insider since 2014.

mid level fraudsters with powerful connections

IDFPR Director, Jay Stewart

Director of Operations, Republican Ashley Barry

Rep McAuliffe's Brother-in-Law Ross Morrealle

Jay Stewart is a cannabis industry insider that was the former Director of the IDFPR - the agency responsible for issuing the cannabis dispensary licenses. He is listed on Green Renaissance Illinois' application along with 5 other insiders.

Rep McAuliffe's Brother-in-Law Ross Morrealle

Director of Operations, Republican Ashley Barry

Rep McAuliffe's Brother-in-Law Ross Morrealle

Ross Morreale is the founder of one of the most lucrative cannabis cultivation sites. His sister is married to former state Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago). Ross and Jay served as "consultants" to GRI. His uncles is listed as the registered agent on their corporate filings.

Director of Operations, Republican Ashley Barry

Ashley Barry is the former director of operations for the Illinois House Republican Organization. She will serve as GRI's community outreach coordinator. She'll most likely be responsible for giving poor black and brown children backpacks for school and getting black religious leaders on board to sell out our communities.

Police Commander Thomas Wheeler Jr.

CTA, VP of Purchasing and Warehousing John Trotta

Director of Operations, Republican Ashley Barry

Wheeler, a former commander who spent 20 years at the Chicago police force, where he oversaw 260 detectives, is also on the GRI team. He later worked for the New Haven police where he supervised the 64-member Investigative Services Unit, which includes major crimes and narcotics. He locks people up for decades because of drug use and then he's given 25 perfect scores and chances to make millions off the very industry that he used to help lock up black and brown people. He is the token that helped to secure social equity status for Green Thumb Industries.

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Millionaire Restaurant Mogul Phil Stefani

CTA, VP of Purchasing and Warehousing John Trotta

Bill Clinton's good friend, Phil Stefani of Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, owns a minimum of 14 restaurant entities, just to name a few, the popular Tavern on Rush, Stefani Prime, Riva Crab House, MAD Social, Crystal Gardens, Tuscany Taylor, etc. and has built a highly successful family enterprise, generational wealth for his family. He has several lucrative businesses in the Chicago area. He is listed as the CFO for Green Renaissance Illinois (GRI). He will now add to his family's generational wealth as a social equity applicant at the expense of true social equity applicants.

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CTA, VP of Purchasing and Warehousing John Trotta

John joined the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), starting in the Capital Development Department and rising to General Manager of Capital Investment in 1991, overseeing more than $2 billion in capital projects. In 1997, John became the Vice President of Purchasing and Warehousing for CTA and held this position until he retired in May 2006. John is also on the GRI team.

State of IL Senior Budget Analyst, Christopher Colantino

Christopher Colantino earned $90,500 working for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services during 2019. Currently he works as a senior budget analyst with the IDFPR. He's working with Fortunate Son Partners LLC along with Casino mogul, Jeff Rehberger. They received 38 perfect scores.

Casino Mogul Jeff Rehberger

State of IL Senior Budget Analyst, Christopher Colantino

The president of Lucky Lincoln Gaming ($34 million in revenue), Jeff Rehberger, is described as doing business in a way “that would discredit or tend to discredit the Illinois gaming industry or the state of Illinois,” he allegedly engaged in “witness harassment” to try to get a former sales representative to change his testimony against him in an Illinois Gaming Board investigation. His Business Development Manager, Sam Fakhouri is the brother to Omar Fakhouri - a Michigan resident that received 28 perfect scores for Mint, LLC. Omar is also the owner of SkyMint in Michigan. Together this wealthy white and Arabic group of millionaires received 66 perfect scores. How did he answer this question on the application?: “Have you ever been a principal officer, manager, board member or owner of a business or non-for-profit organization, other than a cannabis business, that had its license or registration fined, censured, suspended or revoked?” Let's take a shot, "OTHER" without any truth, or explanation.

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IDFPR Lobbyist Jordan Matyas

State of IL Senior Budget Analyst, Christopher Colantino

Chief Operating Officer - IDFPR Brandon Purcell

Illinois licensing and regulation attorney, Jordan Matyas, focuses on the financial services industry and regulation by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and its Division of Financial Institutions. Jordan is connected to V3 Illinois Vending that is connected to Clean Slate and Dealership via ACFB incorporated. Jordan Matyas was the Illinois State Director for HSUS, overseeing all legislative and lobbying activities in that state. Matyas is married to Tiffany Madigan, the daughter of Illinois House Speaker and Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Michael J. Madigan. Matyas's sister-in-law, Lisa Madigan, is the attorney general of Illinois.

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Chief Operating Officer - IDFPR Brandon Purcell

Brandon Purcell works for IDFPR as the Chief Operating Officer. He worked for County Commissioner and former IDFPR Deputy Director for medical cannabis, Bridget Degnen. He helped secure the contract for KPMG. He's connected to EHR Holdings that received 5 perfect scored applications.

Industry Mogul Matt Estep

Chief Operating Officer - IDFPR Brandon Purcell

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Matt Estep is the former managing partner and cofounder of Green Thumb Industries. On his LinkedIn profile he's listed as managing partner of Bosworth Capital Partners. He is still a shareholder of GTI, a publicly traded company that is valued at $3,000,000,000. He is connected to Clean Slate Holdings that is the parent company to Clea

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Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Chief Operating Officer - IDFPR Brandon Purcell

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

State Rep Bob Morgan, 58th District (D) is a partner at Benesch Law.

Benesch Law is linked to ACFB Incorporated, Dealership LLC, Clean Slate Opco LLC, V3 Illinois LLC, Matt Estep, Green Thumb Industries, and Atty. Jordan Matyas. Cresco Labs, First SEED Incubator Program, garnished the same results. Not one applicant advanced to the lottery after the State sank millions of taxpayer dollars into a convoluted social equity initiative designed just for optics, and never with the legislative intent that social equity applicants would ever succeed. Go figure!

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