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* Rep. Kam Buckner…
As the sponsor of the Hemp Regulation bill, I believe this is a critical issue that requires our attention and action. The robust debate within the Dem. caucus reflects the high stakes and complexity of the issues we face as legislators, and this legislation regarding hemp products is no exception. It touches on public health & safety, economic opportunity, and regulatory clarity, issues that demand thoughtful, effective policy.
While emotions ran high during recent discussions, it is crucial to focus on our shared commitment to protecting our communities—especially our children—while supporting responsible industry practices.
The Speaker has a process in place that has served our caucus well, and I am confident that it will work again as we move forward on this issue.
I am deeply grateful for the Governor and his unwavering support, which has been instrumental in advancing this discussion. I personally requested members of his team to provide clarity on the technical nuances of the bill in our caucus yesterday and they did. They did an exceptional job, and any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue. Their expertise was invaluable in helping us navigate this complex issue.
This is going to get done, and I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure we achieve a solution that protects the public, supports innovation and entrepreneurship, and moves Illinois forward.
* Pritzker Spokesperson Alex Gough…
Governor Pritzker is disappointed that lawmakers failed to take bipartisan, common sense action to protect children and the public from unregulated and untested hemp products. The Governor is never beholden to special interests and will always put people, especially children, over politics and profits.
* Cannabis Business Association of Illinois…
The Cannabis Business Association of Illinois released the following statement regarding efforts to regulate intoxicating hemp products:
“We are disappointed by the House’s failure to pass common-sense regulations for hemp consumer products such as CBD while halting the sale of dangerous synthetic hemp-derived intoxicants like delta-8 that are sickening children and adults,” said Tiffany Chappell Ingram, Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois. “Without action, the unregulated intoxicating hemp market will continue to operate with no rules or regulations guiding the production or sale of these products. This leaves consumers at risk and undermines the state’s carefully regulated cannabis market, particularly social equity cannabis license holders who face extensive rules and regulations while those selling intoxicating hemp continue to get off easy. We thank Gov. JB Pritzker for his strong leadership, as well as lawmakers in both chambers who championed this issue. We remain committed to working with the administration and legislators to rein in this unregulated market, empower consumers, protect public health and ensure our state’s legal cannabis industry can reach its full potential.”
* A city council angle…
More on the Governor & Mayor’s hemp fight: https://t.co/dcKh8oj4p8 If the statehouse bill is not approved this week, Ald. Hall plans to hold a hearing in his sub-committee on how to regulate & tax hemp products. Also, a ward by ward ban! https://t.co/RL0buVwMOF
— dri (@DriXander) January 6, 2025
…Adding… Gotta love it how the Chicago media is giving full credit to the mayor for killing that bill…
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s statement after successfully beating back a hemp bill pushed by Gov JB Pritzker — for now. The vote was pulled last night after a flurry of dueling lobbying from the mayor and governor pic.twitter.com/arIwwD5XOG
— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) January 7, 2025
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 10:20 am
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Well, is the Governor going to do what he has always had the power to do. Instruct IDPH to interpret the Illinois Food and Drug Act defining hemp products to be an intoxicating substance. This will make it illegal to sell in any form which can be referenced as food. He can also have IDPH put their foot down regarding any smoke-able versions.
The problem is that he is going to have to enforce this interpretation.
Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 10:27 am
Unionman, we’re gonna ask him that today. Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 10:43 am
==how to regulate & tax hemp products. Also, a ward by ward ban==
In true Chicago fashion, they’ll ban it then tax it.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 10:51 am
unionman just wants the state tied up in costly litigation I guess
Comment by Once again Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 11:36 am
Hilarious that the Chicago media is so clueless to Springfield politics to think that it was the Mayor who stopped that bill. His “presence” on the issue just upset legislators because he hasn’t helped them with anything else. He came in at the 11th hour, and was actually helping the Governor’s case by inserting himself like that. It also gives no credit to the legislators on both sides who have been working tirelessly on the issue to try to get it right.
Comment by Mayor who Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 11:55 am
=== tied up in costly litigation ===
Sometimes enforcing the law requires resources. If kids are getting sick, I don’t have a problem with some taxpayer money going towards enforcement of current laws controlling sales of intoxicating substances.
To opponents of this bill, I have a genuine question: what other intoxicating substances should gas stations be allowed to sell without regulatory oversight?
Comment by Zaphod Beeblebrox Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 12:02 pm
The roll call had been hand to hand combat since May, and was as volatile as this observer has ever witnessed. Members just refused to hold to their word long enough to give anyone assurance there were 60 votes. It’s one thing to lie to a contract lobbyist. It’s another to lie to the Governor. The Mayor’s opposition had little to do with the outcome.
Comment by *Ducks* Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 12:05 pm
Pritzker head-faking the general assembly and constantly moving the goal posts so he can help out the cannibals industry, in what I can only presume to be a another disastrous attempt to salvage the failed cannibals rollout in Illinois. The Trumpy/gaslighting statements coming out of his office are quite surprising. Starting to sound like everyone has to play by his rules or they’re wrong.. Remind you of anyone?
Comment by 5'9 and bald Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 1:10 pm
Is it fair to let one market go unchecked while strip searching another, very similar market, until they are literally giving deals on medicine? Because our medical and rec programs are literally pathetic due to the inability to compete with unregulated intoxicating hemp. LEGISLATORS PLEASE: take a good long look into the faces of local children and tell them, ” I do not care what you put in your body as long as my check clears!” if you are a reason this was not passed.
Comment by Really? Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 1:42 pm
- Well, is the Governor going to do what he has always had the power to do. Instruct IDPH to interpret the Illinois Food and Drug Act defining hemp products to be an intoxicating substance. -
Interpret or prove?…that’s gonna take some time in the courts…as we go ’round and ’round and ’round…once or more again…trying to catch the gold plated ring.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 1:59 pm
Anyone who thinks that Mayor Johnson, who is the most toxic, elected official in Illinois, which is saying a lot, had anything to do with this bill not moving forward, not only doesn’t understand Springfield, but also doesn’t understand that the hemp industry has put a ton of muscle and money behind getting yesterday‘s result. Chicago media: please start paying attention.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 3:09 pm
==Well, is the Governor going to do ==
He will not.
Comment by SWSider Tuesday, Jan 7, 25 @ 4:57 pm