31-01-2025
Chicago alders seek to learn more about delta-8 THC amid calls for greater regulation
CHICAGO — Alders on Thursday heard from hemp sellers and dispensary owners to better understand delta-8 THC as they look to place greater restrictions on products sold throughout the city that contain the cannabis compound.
The meeting comes after the state senate passed legislation that smoke shop owners and hemp retailers argued would put them out of business, and it gave members the opportunity to ask questions about hemp and learn how it could be regulated in a fair manner.
'For us, as a city, it's not an opportunity for blood money. This is not an opportunity to rush regulation, rush taxation to get revenue. That was never the intent,'Ald. William Hall (6th Ward) said at the joint meeting of the City Council's subcommittee on revenue and Committee on Health and Human Relations.
Pritzker disappointed by delay in passing Delta-8 legislation
Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, but cannabis with less than 0.3% THC is considered hemp, otherwise, it is considered marijuana, which is still federally illegal.
Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance that is found in the cannabis sativa plant and is slightly different from the psychoactive and more potent delta-9 compound that is also found in the plant. While the two are different, delta-8 THC still has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, according to the FDA.
Since delta-8 is not produced in significant amounts by cannabis plants, oftentimes, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).
Hemp-derived THC products come in a variety of forms, including, edibles, oils and vaporizer cartridges.
The FDA has not evaluated or approved delta-8 THC products for safe use in any context and warns that the products may be marketed as having 'therapeutic or medical uses.'
Delta-8 products gained popularity following the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which legalized hemp-derived cannabinoids with a THC content of 0.3% or less.
Because of that, products that contain hemp-derived THC can be sold legally and without restriction at businesses that do not require special licenses like those that sell more potent marijuana-derived THC products.
Alders argues that while the products are legal, they are unregulated and can fall into the wrong hands too easily.
'For now, hemp, we're just getting started in terms of what are the regulations that will be viable for hemp after the plant leaves the farm,' said Chicago Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Ige.
Ahead of the meeting, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) held a press conference calling to ban products that carry delta-8.
The Illinois Senate passed legislation that smoke shop owners and hemp retailers argued were too restrictive and bad for business. It was not brought up for a vote in the House. The legislation was supported by Gov. JB Pritzker but not by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Hall said Thursday's discussion could help in drafting a proposal which could potentially receive a vote in the spring.
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