The City of Chicago announced that applicants for special use permits will be allowed to select their cannabis district of choice by lottery on Friday, Nov. 15. This lottery will be administered in accordance with rules made available online by the Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). All applicants properly licensed to operate in the Chicago region will have the opportunity to select cannabis districts through the lottery process, marking the first steps for approval to open new recreational dispensaries after legalization on Jan. 1, 2020. After being selected through the lottery and to ensure residents have a voice in the locations of new dispensaries, all applying cannabis businesses will be required to host at least one community engagement meeting in the affected ward prior to their ZBA public hearing. To be included in the lottery, eligible businesses must apply by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. The drawing will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15 in Room 201-A at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St, prior to the start of the regular ZBA meeting.  The rules for the lottery and subsequent community review process, developed by the ZBA, were authorized by the Cannabis Zoning Ordinance adopted earlier this month by City Council. For more information, read the official rules or visit the Cannabis Zoning Ordinance web page.