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(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gov. JB Pritzker is going to have to wait longer for a bill to regulate hemp products after state lawmakers clashed over restrictions on Monday.
A closed-door meeting of Illinois House democrats got testy, as Representative Kam Buckner (D-26th) acknowledges.
“A very robust discussion for sure, and I would say there were some tensions there. There were some high passions there, but at the end of the day, to me, that is really just par for the course when you’re dealing with such a complex issue,” Buckner said.
Legislation would have required hemp products to be sold by licensed state cannabis dispensaries along with new testing and labeling, with the goal of keeping them away from children, specifically those designed to look like candy.
“Every day that goes by, there are people buying these products and there are people whose health is being put in danger,” Gov. Pritzker said to reporters at an unrelated event in Normal.
Lawmakers are struggling to strike a balance between public health concerns and giving opportunities to growers and producers.
“I don’t feel defeated at all. I do truly believe that this will get done,” Buckner said.
Buckner agrees age restrictions are important when minors can currently buy unregulated hemp products like Delta-8, but says there’s more to it.
“There’s no magic at age 21 that makes it safe for you. You know, as well when there’s no labeling on this, when people don’t know what’s in the ingredients.”
Lawmakers are working to strike a balance between limiting minors’ access to hemp products like Delta 8 and supporting small businesses. Part of that discussion will be tax revenue.
“Cities around the state now have the ability, while we’re still having conversations, to put forth a meaningful taxing structure or meaningful legislation on the city or municipal side to try to figure out how they’re going to operate in this space.”
Objections to taxing hemp products helped doom the current bill, with the City of Chicago and the state both looking for ways to generate revenue as they face budget deficits.
Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are at opposing sides for now, as both see potential tax revenue in regulation.
In the town of Normal, the governor called the lack of support for the bill a tragedy.
“This was the choice by a number of people to, you know, go for profits over people. And I was disappointed to see that.”
Pritzker was asked about Mayor Johnson’s stance on the bill, but downplayed his role in its demise.
“My impression is he didn’t have much to do with this. There’s a powerful lobby that has been, you know, working against this bill for quite some time.”
Though he did note a lack of regular communication between the two.
Mayor Johnson says he’s pleased the bill did not move ahead and his team is eager to pass one that appropriately regulates hemp products to keep kids safe, while ensuring cities do not lose a potential revenue source.
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“}]] Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are at opposing sides for now, as both see potential tax revenue in regulation. In the town of Normal, the governor called the lack of support for the bill a tragedy. Read More
