How hemp sales square with Chicago's 2012 synthetic weed ban
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The Chicago City Council on Wednesday voted to ban hemp sales in two Southwest Side wards.
The intrigue: The vote was potentially unnecessary.
- Ald. Marty Quinn notes that the city in 2012 decided to ban the sale of any "non-prescription substance that has a chemical structure and/or pharmacological effect substantially similar to the active ingredient of marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)."
What they're saying: "These businesses are using the zoning classification of a smoke shop to sell Delta-8 or Delta-9 THC," Quinn tells Axios. "We already banned them, but, for whatever reason, the city stopped enforcing this law."
- Ald. William Hall, who wants to tax and regulate rather than ban the products, wouldn't say how he interprets the law but said "the city's enforcement department needs to do their job if someone is breaking this law."
The other side: Officials at the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) told Axios the law "does not explicitly prohibit the sale of Delta-8 and other natural hemp derivatives," but did not address the similar effects of THC from cannabis and hemp.
- When Axios also asked Mayor Brandon Johnson about the legality of the products, he shifted the subject to an ordinance about imposing age limits on sales and said he would "look into any entity working outside of that work."
- Officials at the city's Law Department said they would need more time to study it.
What's next: At least two other alders introduced similar bans in their own wards.
Here's what happened with other council agenda items:
- Sanctuary changes: The council voted 39-11 to not consider a measure that would allow Chicago police to give limited assistance to federal immigration agents.
- Speed limit: Ald. Daniel La Spata decided not to call a vote on his proposal to lower the default speed limit from 30 to 25 mph.
This story has been updated to include a response from BACP