Chicago City Council Weighs Taxing and Regulating Hemp Products

30 January 2025

The debate over hemp regulation in Chicago intensified on January 30 as City Council committees held hearings on whether to implement citywide oversight and taxation of hemp products. Spearheaded by Alderman William Hall of the 6th Ward, the proposal aims to allow small businesses to sell hemp legally, rather than restricting sales exclusively to licensed cannabis dispensaries as Governor JB Pritzker has proposed.

Opponents, including dispensary owners and some city officials, argue that hemp-derived intoxicating products should be regulated similarly to cannabis to ensure product safety and prevent access by minors. Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) contended that Chicago lacks the regulatory infrastructure to oversee hemp sales independently, pointing out that dispensaries operate under strict state oversight, tracking products from seed to sale. The discussion follows the failure of a statewide hemp regulation bill earlier this year in Springfield. The City Council’s finance committee will review public comments and revise the proposed ordinance in the coming days.