Hemp Industry Lobbies Mayor Against Product Ban
Leaders in Chicago's hemp industry are actively lobbying Mayor Brandon Johnson to veto a proposed ban on certain hemp-derived products. Industry representatives argue the measure would negatively affect local businesses and cost jobs within the city's burgeoning hemp sector.
- The Chicago City Council passed the ordinance on January 21, 2026, with a 32-16 vote. Mayor Brandon Johnson has until February 17 to veto the measure before it takes effect on April 1. - The ban specifically targets intoxicating hemp-derived products such as edibles, vapes, and smokable flower. However, it includes exemptions for beverages, topical creams, additives, and pet products. - Proponents of the ban, like Alderman Marty Quinn who championed the ordinance, argue it is necessary to protect children from products often sold in packaging resembling candy. - Mayor Johnson has expressed "serious concerns" that the ban could harm small businesses and create an unregulated black market for these products, similar to past prohibitions on alcohol and marijuana. - An economic analysis estimates there are 1,850 independent hemp retailers in Cook County, generating $620 million in annual sales and supporting 8,200 direct retail jobs. A separate analysis suggests Chicago is home to about 220 hemp retailers generating around $475 million in annual sales. - The ordinance would restrict the sale of remaining legal hemp products to licensed cannabis dispensaries, while bars and restaurants with liquor licenses could continue to sell hemp-based beverages. - This local ordinance comes as a federal ban on intoxicating hemp-derived products, stemming from a spending bill, is set to take effect in November. - The current market for these products exists due to a loophole in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production but did not anticipate the creation of intoxicating products derived from it.
