(The Center Square) – Some Illinois lawmakers are proposing legislation to regulate marijuana, while others are calling for federal involvement.
Congress legalized hemp-derived products in the 2018 Farm Bill but failed to establish a regulatory framework, according to a report by the Reason Foundation. States where marijuana is legal, such as Illinois, are more likely to ban or restrict cannabis-derived products, according to the report.
“State regulations governing hemp products are wide-ranging and unevenly enforced, creating a patchwork of rules that can vary dramatically from state to state,” said Geoffrey Lawrence of the Reason Foundation. Michelle Minton writes. “This piecemeal approach puts consumers at risk, strains state resources, and impedes the ability of even willing actors to comply with state regulations.”
The cannabis industry is attacking the cannabis industry. A new documentary that takes a big look at Michigan cannabis companies is called “High Stakes.” This film about the hemp industry shows the dangers of the 2018 Farm Bill's “loopholes.” This loophole allowed untested hemp-derived cannabinoid products to enter the market and be easily available to children and teens.
Ray Stout, executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Association, said craft breweries are producing safe hemp beverages, but those seeking regulation in Illinois are actively pursuing legislation. He said no.
“They're going after the bad guys and the people at the Delta 8 gas station, but they're essentially going after the cannabis industry as a whole,” Stout said.
Stout believes 10% of breweries are producing hemp-based beverages, which equates to about 30 breweries, with another 40 to 50 in various stages of research and development. I think there is.
The bill, which failed to pass in the Illinois General Assembly, would have allowed only businesses licensed under current cannabis law to sell cannabis products. Gov. J.B. Pritzker expects lawmakers to reconsider the bill.
The U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Cannabinoid Safety Regulation Act. This is a law that directs the FDA to regulate intoxicating hemp products that are already legal in the United States.
