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Hemp Business Owners in Illinois Call for Regulation Instead of Ban on Intoxicating Cannabinoids
Illinois hemp business owners are urging lawmakers to approve legislation that would regulate the state’s hemp industry, rather than a bill that would ban products containing intoxicating cannabinoids like delta-8 THC.
Last month, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford introduced a bill that would ban delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids. These products are currently unregulated in Illinois and are widely available at retailers, including smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores, often in the form of edibles that mimic popular brands.
According to a report from WGEM television news, Democratic state Representative Barbara Hernandez expressed concerns about the lack of regulation and transparency in these products, stating, “We don’t know what exactly is in them…they are not regulated to list the full ingredients.”
Lightford’s bill, known as the Hemp Consumer Products Act (SB3926), would also establish a licensing system for hemp product retailers and set requirements for testing, packaging, and marketing. The Illinois Cannabis Association, which supports the bill, also calls for scientific research to determine if these intoxicating products can be safely regulated and sold in the state again.
In a statement, Tiffany Chappell Ingram, the association’s executive director, called for a “pause” in the sale of hemp intoxicants while further research is conducted, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. She also expressed a desire to work with legislators to find a solution that benefits consumers and supports social equity license holders and communities impacted by the war on drugs.
However, the Hemp Consumer Products Act is facing opposition from some lawmakers and members of the hemp industry who believe the bill is too strict and could harm the growing market for hemp products. Opponents of the bill held a press conference in Springfield on Tuesday to voice their concerns and show support for a different hemp regulation bill.
Jennifer Weiss, founder and CEO of Chicago-based hemp retailer Cubbington’s Cabinet, fears that Lightford’s bill would impose such strict limits that it would effectively ban non-intoxicating products like CBD. “We would have to shut our doors, as well as hundreds of other Illinois companies,” she said. “Let’s not go backward with out-of-touch prohibitions.”
Instead, hemp entrepreneurs are backing a separate bill (HB5306) from Democratic state Representative La Shawn Ford. He believes that Lightford’s bill would not only harm the state’s hemp industry but also create a new illicit market for hemp-derived intoxicants.
