Craig Katz, President of Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association, ILHAA, said," We are very pleased that the Mayor has decided to support small businesses and a growing industry in the City. It takes courage to stand up for principle. However, we know that there is still much work to do and we look forward to working with the Mayor and City Council to craft responsible regulations that protect consumers and children, while allowing businesses to thrive."
The entire Chicago hemp community came together to educate the elected officials and the community about hemp, and to ask the Mayor to veto the flawed legislation. They emphasized the number of small businesses, many Black and brown-owned, and employees who would be hurt by the legislation.
Additionally, the community voices of consumers who use hemp products for their own or their pet's health were amplified. There were several media stories, press conferences, and a town hall meeting to share the stories of both the consumers and the business people.
The hemp community communicated with the Mayor and his staff, as well as the Aldermen and their staff, to discuss fundamental problems in the legislation. Many of these flaws occurred because the writers of the legislation refused to meet with the hemp industry. Communication internally within the hemp industry, and externally to the broader community, was critical to the success of the push for the veto.
The Mayor's veto makes good economic sense. Hemp retailers generate roughly $475 million in sales. Tax revenue for Chicago is estimated to be $30 million per year for sales tax alone. That does not include $5.0 million - $7.5 million in licensing fees.
The vetoed legislation was written to reward the Big Cannabis and Big Liquor industries at the expense of the hemp industry, which is fueled predominantly by small, local businesses. The hemp industry is thankful to the Aldermen who opposed Quinn's ordinance, led by Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez and Alderperson Sigcho-Lopez, who first stood against the measure as they called for it to be deferred and published in the City Council to block the original hemp ban passage.
For more information:
The Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association
[email protected]
ilhaa.org
