Officials in an Illinois suburb near Chicago became the latest to crack down on unregulated hemp-derived THC products, joining other local governments across the state to fill what they describe as a regulatory vacuum left by Springfield lawmakers.
The Rolling Meadows City Council unanimously approved an ordinance this week prohibiting retail sales of hemp-derived THC, kratom and tianeptine products starting in February 2025, city officials said in an email. There is, however, an exemption for state-licensed cannabis dispensaries.
The action follows similar moves by other Chicago-area municipalities. A June survey by the Northwest Municipal Conference found several communities, including Des Plaines and Glencoe, have enacted bans, while others are actively reviewing restrictions.
“In addition to these folks, we know that Tinley Park, Orland Park and Lake Zurich have bans and that Oak Park is working on this topic now,” Glen Cole, Rolling Meadows’ assistant city manager, told Green Market Report.
City documents show the issue gained urgency after recent site visits revealed widespread availability of the targeted products. Investigators found kratom at all four of the specialty shops they checked and delta-8 products at three of the locations.
Roughly 20 tobacco retailers will be affected by the ban, but local media reports say most of the impact will be felt by six specialty smoke shops, drawing pushback from business owners who warn it could force closures while simply pushing sales of the products to nearby towns or online vendors.
“THC products are already available and regulated through our cannabis dispensary,” Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica said in a statement. “By stopping the sale of THC-derived products in other venues, the city will continue its proactive control of cannabis distribution.”
The popularity of delta-8 THC has surged since 2018, existing in what some government officials have described as a legal grey area. While synthesized from hemp-derived CBD, the Drug Enforcement Administration has asserted the final product is illegal under federal law. However, a federal appeals court recently brought the issue back to the forefront.
Young people have widespread access to such products, according to national drug use surveys cited in city council materials, with about 11% of high school seniors reported using delta-8 THC in the past year.
And as of late, the Illinois State Police Cannabis Control Office has specifically called for “a regulatory framework for all hemp-derived THC products,” noting prosecutors have struggled to pursue cases due to legal ambiguities, according to a state’s annual cannabis report previously covered by Green Market Report and cited in city documents.
The ordinance establishes penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 per violation and allows for business license suspension or revocation. The council also passed a resolution Tuesday calling for state-level action by the general assembly.
“For these efforts to succeed, we need the cooperation of our neighboring municipalities and counties,” Sanoica said. “I also invite the state of Illinois to join our efforts in providing guidance on these gray-area substances.”
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