(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is going after the hemp industry in Illinois.
A hemp regulation measure stalled at the Illinois State House is being highlighted by the governor. House Bill 4293 would regulate intoxicating hemp products similar to how legal cannabis is regulated, and would impose taxation and testing requirements.
Pritzker said the bill would also prohibit packaging designed to appeal to children.
“This industry is selling hemp-derived products, such as Delta-8, and they’re using deceptive advertising tactics to market them directly to minors,” said Pritzker.
Pritzker noted that over 9,000 cases of Delta-8 poisonings have been reported around the country since 2021.
“Much remains unknown regarding the impacts from these products, but we do know that youth are being exposed and reporting negative effects in our clinics and in the emergency department,” said Dr. Maria Rahmander from Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.
Several lawmakers favor an outright ban of the products, while others, such as state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, prefers that the products be regulated and taxed.
“I do not think we want to hurt our economy by regulating hemp companies out of existence,” said Ford. “That will only fuel the ugly war on drugs and encourage crime, move consumers to an illegal unsafe market, and drive thriving companies out of Illinois.”
The Illinois Hemp Business Association said it also supports regulation to “shield families from bad actors who peddle dangerous synthetics disguised as hemp or shamelessly market to children.”
“However, HB 4293 is not regulation – it’s a full-scale ban that wipes out nearly all federally legal hemp-derived products, including CBD lotions, shampoos, and pet care items,” the association’s statement said. “The legislation would benefit large marijuana corporations at the expense of Illinois residents and the legitimate small businesses that follow federal law, yet does nothing to curb online sales of hemp products to minors from out-of-state companies.”
After the 2018 Farm Bill unintentionally legalized intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, hemp operators created a booming market for those products. That market could come to a halt if Congress closes loopholes for existing hemp-derived cannabinoid businesses in a new U.S. Farm Bill.
Thirteen states have banned hemp-derived THC products, while seven states have implemented regulations on the industry.
