Chicago City Council Upholds Veto on Hemp Ban

- The attempt to override the mayor's veto failed with a 26-20 vote, falling short of the 34 votes required. This was a shift from the original 32-16 vote that passed the ban in January. - Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the ordinance as a "prohibition-style ban" that would disproportionately harm small, minority-owned businesses. He argued many Black and brown entrepreneurs entered the hemp market after being excluded from the costly cannabis licensing process. - The proposed ban was sponsored by Alderman Marty Quinn, who cited calls from parents about products being "peddled to kids" and packaged to resemble candy as a primary motivation for the legislation. - The ordinance would have limited the sale of most intoxicating hemp products, such as edibles and vapes, to licensed cannabis dispensaries. However, it included specific exemptions for beverages, additives, topical creams, and pet products, which could still be sold by other licensed businesses like bars and restaurants. - According to the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association, hemp retailers in Chicago generate approximately $475 million in yearly sales. An economic analysis noted that Cook County's 1,850 independent hemp retailers support about 8,200 jobs. - In his veto statement, Mayor Johnson called the city-level ban "premature," stating the city should align with forthcoming federal guidance on hemp products rather than creating a patchwork of regulations. - With the veto upheld, intoxicating hemp products remain largely unregulated in Chicago for the time being. Proponents of the veto, including the mayor, have indicated a need to establish a new regulatory framework that includes safety standards, age verification, and taxation.