SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers could pass a bill in the final days of the spring session to create new regulations for cannabis and hemp.

Sponsors said the state's 2019 law legalizing adult-use cannabis created regulations that were necessary at the time but were overly burdensome for many small and social equity cannabis businesses.

House Bill 5784 and Senate Bill 20 could reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens to help those businesses thrive.

The legislation would also address major changes in federal policy surrounding THC.

"If you want to keep selling CBD hemp products, non-intoxicating hemp products, we want to make it as easy as possible to register with the state," said Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago). "We propose a $200 registration fee. You fill out a form and you can just keep selling these products."

Illinois would ban gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops from selling intoxicating hemp products. This plan would only allow these items to be sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries.

The legislation could also improve the state's medical cannabis law for social equity licensees and patients. 

"From protecting a grandmother buying CBD oil for arthritis to making sure a social equity transporter can build a real business to guarding underage youth from harmful products, this bill is simply about people," said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood). "Effective regulation is about safeguarding public health and fostering a sustainable, trustworthy market." 

The proposals were heard during two separate subject matter hearings Tuesday. Neither plan received a committee vote. 

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