EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 15)
WHEREAS, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on March 9, 2020 (“Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation”) in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”); and,
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends critical mitigation measures including social distancing, which consists of maintaining at least a six-foot distance between people and is the paramount strategy for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate for the State of Illinois to immediately take measures to promote and secure the safety and protection of the people of the State in response to this COVID-19 outbreak; and,
WHEREAS, Executive Order 2020-10 mandated that Illinoisans stay at home other than for essential activities, essential governmental functions, and essential businesses and operations; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 410 ILCS 705, and implementing regulations, Title 8, Section 1300 of the Illinois Administrative Code, several upcoming licensing application deadlines require in-person submission; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate for the State of Illinois to immediately take measures to protect the public's health in response to this COVID-19 outbreak;
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and pursuant to Sections 7(1) and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby Order the following:
Section 1. The application submission deadlines in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and implementing regulations for submitting applications by March 16, 2020, which previously were suspended pursuant to Executive Order 2020-03 and extended through March 30, 2020, hereby are suspended as follows:
- The March 16, 2020, deadline for submission of craft grower license applications pursuant to Title 8, Section 1300.300(b) of the Illinois Administrative Code, which was extended through Executive Order 2020-03 to March 30, 2020, is extended to April 30, 2020;
- The March 16, 2020, deadline for submission of infuser license applications pursuant to Section 35-5(b) of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 410 ILCS 705/35-5(b) and Title 8, Section 1300.400(b) of the Illinois Administrative Code, which was extended through Executive Order 2020-03 to March 30, 2020, is extended to April 30, 2020; and
- The March 16, 2020, deadline for submission of transporter license applications pursuant to Section 40-5(b) of the cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 40 ILCS 705/40-5(b) and Title 8, Section 1300.510(b)(1)(A) of the Illinois Administrative Code, which was extended through Executive Order 2020-03 to March 30, 2020, is extended to April 30, 2020.
This Executive Order supersedes Section 1 of Executive Order 2020-03 and legally extends the above-listed deadlines through April 7, 2020, the last day of the current Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Upon issuance of a new 30-day Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, the above-listed deadlines will be legally extended to April 30, 2020 through a new Executive Order.
Section 2. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is further directed to accept all craft grower, infuser, and transporter license applications post-marked on or before April 30, 2020, via certified US Mail at:
Illinois Department of Agriculture
c/o Bureau of Medicinal Plants
P.O. Box 19281
Springfield, IL 62794-9281 USA
This Executive Order supersedes Section 3 of Executive Order 2020-03.
Section 3. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Issued by the Governor March 28, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State March 28, 2020