Hemp industry advocate promises to work with Pritzker, lawmakers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and an advocate for the Illinois hemp industry have different views on reform after Congress passed prohibitions on most hemp products.

Legislation to end the partial shutdown of the federal government included a provision to restrict hemp products containing THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.

Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association Board President Craig Katz said provision approved by Congress last week would essentially kill the hemp industry by banning 95% of its products.

“The new legislation basically includes any THC levels, whether it’s THC 9, THC 8, THC 10, THC A, THC P and groups them all together. It’s virtually impossible to not have some trace amount of THC in your products, and that includes non-intoxicating THC products,” Katz told The Center Square.

Katz said some of the products are used to address medical issues.

“Epilepsy, childhood epilepsy especially, PTSD issues with veterans, this a popular space for veterans,” Katz said, adding that veterans go to the VA with various health issues and get prescribed opioids.

“They don’t want the opioids. Obviously, the opioids are highly addictive and they have a lot of other secondary effects, so they don’t like to do that. They’ve turned to many of our products as alternative health remedies,” Katz explained.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana President and CEO Kevin Sabet applauded the U.S. House vote, saying it closed the hemp loophole that resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products.

“For years, the predatory intoxicating hemp industry poisoned millions of children, deceived adults, and tricked lawmakers into allowing the mass proliferation of these dangerous substances. SAM and our friends and allies have fought hard from day one to stop them,” Sabet said in a statement.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at an unrelated event in Chicago last week that the federal regulation is not a complete ban, and he would review the details to see what state lawmakers might be able to do.

“We want to make sure that whatever it is that’s allowed in the state of Illinois is safe for children and obviously safe for anybody that uses it,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker reiterated that the goal is to keep children safe.

“I have been disappointed that the industry here has been unwilling to accept proper regulation, so now we’ll end up at the table talking about how best to move forward,” Pritzker said.

Katz said he loves the governor but disagrees with his assessment.

“Gov. Pritzker, I think, is doing a great job for the state, but he’s absolutely wrong on this issue. The hemp industry in Illinois has been trying very hard for the last several years to get regulation,” Katz said.

Katz said there is a one-year moratorium before the federal law takes effect and expressed hope that federal lawmakers would respond to the public outcry against it.

In Illinois, Katz said the ILHAA would file regulations again in the General Assembly’s upcoming 2026 legislative session.

“We would love to work with the governor and his office on formulating regulations that address all the issues that he says he’s concerned about,” Katz said.

Katz said the ILHAA has not had difficulty with the governor but has had difficulty getting people in the governor’s office to engage.