Chicago City Council Passes Ban on Hemp THC Products with Exceptions for Beverages and Ointments
The Chicago City Council voted to outlaw a wide range of hemp-derived products, months before a federal ban is set to take effect. The decision has left many businesses in the city's thriving hemp industry reeling, particularly those that cater to minors.
Despite opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, Alderman Marty Quinn pushed forward with a "blanket ban" on hemp products for sale to anyone under 21. However, Quinn had to make some concessions to pass the measure, including allowing licensed vendors to sell hemp-infused beverages and other CBD offerings.
The exception for beverages has been hailed as a victory by the industry, which has seen a surge in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many bars and restaurants have relied on these products to stay afloat as consumers turn away from alcohol.
However, not all Council members were convinced that the ban was necessary. Alderman Maria Hadden warned that banning hemp products would drive them into the black market, where they could still be accessible to minors.
The federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 allowed THC to be extracted from hemp and concentrated into a range of products with chemical compositions nearly identical to marijuana but not classified as drugs. Hemp businesses have long called for taxation and regulation, arguing that an age limit of 21 and standards for testing and labeling are necessary to protect consumers.
The City Council's decision is seen as a significant blow to the industry, which has already faced challenges from state lawmakers over how to regulate hemp products. The Illinois Hemp Business Association Director Charles Wu argued that the ordinance came down to "economic favoritism" for the cannabis and alcohol industries over the burgeoning hemp industry.
"We are not asking for special treatment," Wu said. "We are asking for clear rules, consistent enforcement, and a path to compliance that applies equally to everyone."
The ban is set to take effect in 10 days, but other provisions will be pushed back until April 1. Mayor Johnson has not yet decided whether to veto the measure, citing concerns about regulating products while keeping people safe.
As the industry reels from this latest setback, many are left wondering what the future holds for hemp businesses in Chicago.
The Chicago City Council voted to outlaw a wide range of hemp-derived products, months before a federal ban is set to take effect. The decision has left many businesses in the city's thriving hemp industry reeling, particularly those that cater to minors.
Despite opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, Alderman Marty Quinn pushed forward with a "blanket ban" on hemp products for sale to anyone under 21. However, Quinn had to make some concessions to pass the measure, including allowing licensed vendors to sell hemp-infused beverages and other CBD offerings.
The exception for beverages has been hailed as a victory by the industry, which has seen a surge in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many bars and restaurants have relied on these products to stay afloat as consumers turn away from alcohol.
However, not all Council members were convinced that the ban was necessary. Alderman Maria Hadden warned that banning hemp products would drive them into the black market, where they could still be accessible to minors.
The federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 allowed THC to be extracted from hemp and concentrated into a range of products with chemical compositions nearly identical to marijuana but not classified as drugs. Hemp businesses have long called for taxation and regulation, arguing that an age limit of 21 and standards for testing and labeling are necessary to protect consumers.
The City Council's decision is seen as a significant blow to the industry, which has already faced challenges from state lawmakers over how to regulate hemp products. The Illinois Hemp Business Association Director Charles Wu argued that the ordinance came down to "economic favoritism" for the cannabis and alcohol industries over the burgeoning hemp industry.
"We are not asking for special treatment," Wu said. "We are asking for clear rules, consistent enforcement, and a path to compliance that applies equally to everyone."
The ban is set to take effect in 10 days, but other provisions will be pushed back until April 1. Mayor Johnson has not yet decided whether to veto the measure, citing concerns about regulating products while keeping people safe.
As the industry reels from this latest setback, many are left wondering what the future holds for hemp businesses in Chicago.
it's like, the city council just threw the entire hemp industry under the bus 
and now all those businesses that were struggling to stay afloat are gonna get hit even harder 
i mean, come on, the CBD beverages are still allowed? what's the point of regulating some products but not others? 
it just doesn't make sense
alderman Hadden is right, we need clear rules and enforcement for a reason. it's not like the hemp industry is asking for special treatment or anything 
they're just trying to operate within the law and provide safe products for consumers
it's like, we get it, you wanna keep people safe, but do we really need a blanket ban? 
couldn't they've found a way to regulate the industry without putting everyone out of business? ugh, it's just so frustrating 
this is so crazy 
like, businesses are already struggling and now they're being shut down left and right... what's the point of having a thriving hemp industry if people can't even buy it legally? 
and I feel bad for the bars and restaurants that rely on these products to stay afloat... 
. That's not a solution, that's just a way to avoid making tough decisions and doing things the right way. It's time for our leaders to step up and support the hemp industry instead of holding it back 
and then some of their colleagues are saying that it'll drive them into the black market? come on, can't we just have clear rules and consistent enforcement already?! 
it's not like they're asking for special treatment or anything 
. Those have been a lifesaver for bars and restaurants since COVID, and it's crazy that the city would suddenly take them away 
. The hemp industry was already struggling, and this is just another nail in the coffin 
.
The industry has been trying to get some traction with regulation, and now this just sets them back even further. And let's be real, it's not like they're asking for special treatment or anything... just basic consistency and fairness in laws 
. I mean, come on, who thought it was a good idea to make a blanket ban on all hemp products? It's gonna drive everything into the black market and put all these small businesses out of commission 
. I swear, it's like they're trying to strangle this industry before it even has a chance to grow 
.
This is crazy! I'm surprised the city council would pass a ban on hemp THC products with exceptions for beverages and ointments. It's like they're playing catch-up with the federal government. What's the point of having regulations if it's just going to be ignored? 
Let's hope Mayor Johnson doesn't veto it or this industry is gonna be in major trouble 
. And what's the big deal about THC in beverages and ointments? It's not like it's going to turn kids into zombies 
. I think we need some common sense here and let these businesses thrive without all the red tape 
it's all about regulating and taxing them now, not making money off of it 
but can't they see how this is going to push everything into the black market? That's just gonna hurt consumers more in the long run 
.
. It's not fair to the hemp businesses who have been working hard to bring in a new revenue stream and create jobs 
.