IL Senate passes ban on synthetic THC intoxicants, House lets bill stall

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate passed a proposal Sunday to crack down on unregulated THC products putting consumers at risk.

Many of the products currently sold in gas stations, smoke shops and stores disguised as dispensaries look like candy, chips and cookies.

This legislation could create a regulatory framework for hemp consumer products and establish standards for licensing, testing and labeling similar to cannabis products.

"We can't deny that there's parents across the state that continue to receive the call no one wants to receive, the call that their child has consumed Delta-8 THC and has been transported to the hospital," said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood).

Licensed dispensaries would be the only businesses permitted to sell hemp-derived THC, including Delta-8 products. Although, the measure could allow certain retailers and manufacturers to sell drinks derived from hemp until January 20, 2025.

Social equity craft growers and infusers would be allowed to process hemp by extracting the naturally occurring chemicals into concentrates as well. All products made by hemp processors must be sold to either social equity craft growers or infusers starting July 1.

House Bill 4293 passed out of the Senate on a 54-1 vote Sunday. However, state representatives failed to bring the plan up for a vote before the House adjourned for the summer.

"The Hemp Consumer Products Act will license and regulate hemp consumer products such as CBD while banning the sale of dangerous synthetic hemp-derived intoxicants like Delta-8 that are sickening children and adults," said Tiffany Chappell Ingram, Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois. "We applaud lawmakers for taking action to rein in an unregulated market that has operated for years with no oversight, confusing consumers and undermining Illinois' carefully crafted legal cannabis industry."

House Democrats could try to pass the proposal again during veto session this fall, but they would need a considerable amount of support from Republicans to have three-fifths of the House supporting legislation after May 31.