Chicago City Council Approves Hemp Products Ban

The Chicago City Council's License Committee has banned the sale of unregulated hemp products, including delta-8, in two Southwest Side wards, following stalled statewide restrictions. Mayor Brandon Johnson, who opposed a broader hemp regulation bill pushed by Governor JB Pritzker, expressed concern that such legislation would impact the city's revenue. The governor's proposed bill aimed to regulate hemp sales more strictly, citing public safety, but faced backlash from local businesses worried about excessive regulation. Meanwhile, former House Speaker Michael Madigan has taken the stand in his defense amid ongoing corruption allegations. Local entrepreneurs in the hemp industry, like Jane & Mary's founder, are advocating for fair regulations to protect small businesses against monopolistic practices in the cannabis market. As tensions rise between city and state leadership over hemp regulations, the future of local businesses remains uncertain.