Pritzker defends regulating hemp products despite stalled bill
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[May 31, 2024]
By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – The sponsor of a measure to regulate Illinois'
hemp industry says children are overdosing on cannabinoid products
derived from hemp and it needs to be regulated. A measure to do that has
stalled.
Some legislators who raised concerns about House Bill 4293 say the it
will effectively ban CBD products in Illinois. Those in the hemp
industry say it’s impossible to create products at a THC potency level
that doesn’t exceed 0.3%.
The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said on
the Senate floor that hemp has been chemically modified to become more
potent than traditional cannabis products. The measure passed there
54-1. The House never brought up the Senate's amendments for concurrence
before adjourning early Wednesday.
Despite the bill's status, Gov. J.B. Pritzker expressed support for the
idea of regulating hemp products.
“I really believe we need to step back and ask, ‘what is in the best
interest of the health of kids and adults across the state?’ I think
regulating it is proper,” Pritzker said Wednesday at a post-session news
conference.
Like those in the hemp industry, state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, raised
concerns about the strict mandate where hemp businesses can’t create
products with anything higher than a 0.3% THC level.
“They [those in the hemp industry] don’t believe it’s intoxicating and
they don’t want it to be intoxicating but they fear they may get caught
up in whether it’s considered intoxicating or not at this 0.3%. I know
that as we go forward we will continue to look at that because I think
we all agree that both of these industries [the hemp industry and
cannabis industry] need to continue in Illinois,” said Tracy, who
ultimately voted "yes" on the bill.
“If you want to sell weed then get into the weed business,” Lightford
said in a Senate committee hearing.
State Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, was the only senator who voted
"no." Preston said he is concerned that the bill will harm small
businesses.
“As a father, I don’t think children should be allowed to purchase this
product in its current form. What concerns me is that this bill is going
to hurt businesses across the state. This is going to hurt hemp farmers
and retailers, and this is their main product line. I believe there is
an opportunity for us to move a responsible piece of legislation that
regulates hemp,” Preston said when urging a "no" vote on the Senate
floor. “Many of these storefront shops are popping up throughout my
district … we are seeing more economic activity.”

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Snack products next to similarly packaged cannabinoid products -
BlueRoomStream

Hemp industry members say they want regulation and they think the tax
that comes with regulation would be beneficial for the state, but
they’re worried Lightford’s bill will impose mandates that cause the
industry to shy away from creating CBD products altogether.
Lightford said on the Senate floor the legislature can’t deny that
parents across the state are getting calls that their children have
consumed Delta-8 THC.
“In fact last year, there were multiple instances of school children in
hospitals displaying overdose symptoms from the ingestion of THC,” said
Lightford.
Lightford mentioned five students from Uplift Community High School
going to the hospital after taking marijuana gummies she said came from
a hemp retailer.

Pritzker was asked about the bill that ultimately didn't make it to the
House floor for concurrence and will not be heading to his desk for
further action.
"I believe an unregulated product like this, which clearly has caused
some health problems, ought to be regulated by the state," said Pritzker.
"It's clear it's not for medicinal purposes, it's not regulated the way
cannabis is and there's no restriction on who gets it."
State Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, asked about the licensing process
and expressed concerns about the time frame in which hemp industry
members would have obtained their license. Collins said she wouldn’t
vote "no" because the legislature has a responsibility to protect young
people from deceptive practices.
“I am all for regulation and making sure we know what’s in the [hemp]
products, [accurate] labeling, the age and potency,” said Collins. “I
know in my district there’s retailers that ID people and labeling
doesn’t look like the label I see in the gas stations. There are folks
that feel their businesses are going to be closed down because of the
short timeframe to get their license. I know we have to protect our
young people.”
The legislature adjourned for the summer and is not expected back until
fall veto session. |