a provision for a task force to study the potential impact of regulating and taxing hemp products on the state’s economy and public health
Illinois Lawmakers and Cannabis Industry Representatives Call for Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products
Last week, Illinois lawmakers joined forces with representatives of the licensed cannabis industry to push for a ban on intoxicating hemp products, specifically delta-8 THC. The proposed legislation would also regulate non-intoxicating hemp products, including rules for licensing businesses and testing and labeling requirements.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp agriculture and products, effectively ending decades of prohibition. However, the bill failed to regulate hemp cannabinoids, leading to a surge in intoxicating products like delta-8. These products are currently being sold at unregulated outlets such as convenience stores, gas stations, and smoke shops, often without any age restrictions or oversight.
State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, a mother of a teenager, expressed her concern at a press conference last Thursday, stating that young people are purchasing these intoxicating hemp products and experiencing adverse effects. She referred to the phenomenon as “greening out.”
Many states have already taken steps to regulate hemp products, with some even calling for a ban on delta-8 and other similar intoxicating cannabinoids. At a press conference held at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield, lawmakers, regulators, and licensed cannabis business owners unveiled a proposal to regulate hemp products. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 3926, would allow for the production of non-intoxicating hemp products, such as CBD, by licensed businesses that comply with testing and labeling requirements. However, synthetically produced cannabinoids like delta-8 would be banned.
“The goal of this legislation is to empower consumers by ensuring that they know exactly what they’re consuming and what they are,” said Tiffany Chappell Ingram, executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois. “We also want to protect public health and maintain the integrity of our state’s long-fought-for legal cannabis industry, which is undermined by these unregulated products.”
During the press conference, a table was set up displaying various delta-8 products, including candy and snacks, that were purchased from unregulated outlets. These products are seen as a danger to young people, with many designed to imitate popular brands. For example, one bag of corn chips was labeled “Fritos” but had small cannabis leaves on the packaging.
Joseph Friedman, former CEO of the now-closed cannabis dispensary PDI Medical, also spoke at the press conference, highlighting the potential dangers of unregulated hemp products, especially for young people. “Without regulation, we have no idea what is really in these products,” he said. “That should be concerning to us all, especially since some of these intoxicating products are chemically modified and widely available to teenagers and kids.”
The proposed legislation also includes a provision for a task force to study the potential impact of regulating and taxing hemp products on the state’s economy and public health. This move shows that lawmakers are taking a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of unregulated hemp products in Illinois.
