Popular shops, bakeries and wellness brands that sell delta-8 THC and other hemp derivatives that have proliferated without the weight of government oversight are now actively seeking state intervention.
"We don't see a lot of companies coming to Springfield asking to be strictly regulated and tax their own industry," said state Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), the sponsor of a measure (House Bill 5306 and Senate Bill 3790) to require hemp businesses be licensed. "It's very hard to find people that want to regulate their industry and be told what to do by government. It's always, 'Get out of the way, government.'"
Ford's measure would allow an unlimited number of hemp businesses to pay $500 for a state license, and institute a 10% tax on retail sales as well as a 10% wholesale tax — charges that the industry predicts would bring Illinois $1.5 billion in revenue over the next four years.
The legislation also prohibits the sale of products made to look like non-hemp snacks and candy, limit doses and require testing of hemp products. Ford said bad actors who break the law by selling unsafe or high-dose products or who sell to anyone under age 21 could be stripped of their licenses
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