Save Illinois Hemp: Why We Must Stop HB4293 Now

Imagine if a single sweeping legislative act could reverse years of progress, criminalize a federally legal industry, and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. This is exactly what Illinois HB4293 threatens to do.

The bill, if passed, would wreak havoc in Illinois by criminalizing federally legal hemp-derived products, turning hard-working small business owners into felons, and crippling a thriving industry that has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for many. Now is the time for Illinois residents, hemp advocates, and small business owners to stand together and fight back. Here’s why we must oppose HB4293—and how you can take action to protect progress and equity in Illinois.

What Is HB4293?

HB4293 is a proposed bill in Illinois that seeks to impose severe restrictions and penalties on hemp-derived products. Here’s what’s at stake if this bill passes:

• Criminalizes Federally Legal Products: Under HB4293, products that are deemed federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill could suddenly become illegal in Illinois.
• Turns Producers and Retailers Into Felons: The bill harshly targets hemp producers and retailers, imposing felony charges for the sale of certain products.
• Bans Full-Spectrum Products: Full-spectrum hemp products, which contain trace amounts of naturally occurring compounds, would be banned altogether.
• Creates a Black Market Overnight: By restricting legal products, the bill would unintentionally encourage illegal sales, undermining consumer protection and enforcement.
• Imposes Harsh Fines, Fees, and Restrictions: Small businesses—the backbone of the hemp industry—would struggle to bear the financial burden of the bill’s excessive fines and fees.
• Perpetuates the War on Drugs: Worse yet, HB4293 perpetuates outdated drug policies that disproportionately target Black and Brown communities.

Why We Stand Together Against HB4293

When we stand against HB4293, we’re not just protecting hemp businesses—we’re advocating for equity, education, and opportunity. Here’s why this fight matters to all Illinois residents:

1. Advocating for Equity

Hemp has represented a fresh start for many communities, providing jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities across the state. If HB4293 passes, it disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, taking jobs away from underserved areas and criminalizing individuals who are simply following federal law. The war on drugs has left a trail of generational harm, and this bill threatens to perpetuate those injustices.

2. Ensuring Education and Consumer Safety

Hemp is federally legal for a reason—it’s safe, controlled, and growing in popularity as people seek natural alternatives. Educating consumers about hemp-derived products supports informed decision-making, which leads to public trust. HB4293 discards this progress by pushing legal products underground, where risks increase and misinformation thrives.

3. Supporting Economic Growth, Not a Pipeline to Prison

Currently, hemp creates pathways for innovation and economic growth. Small businesses across Illinois depend on this industry to survive, building jobs and local economies in the process. HB4293 takes that pipeline of opportunity and threatens to replace it with a pipeline to prison. This is not the future we want for our state.

The Consequences of HB4293

If passed, HB4293 will:

• Crush small businesses that are vital to the state’s economy.
• Reverse years of progress in hemp regulation and innovation.
• Reintroduce inequitable criminalization that has long devastated Black and Brown communities.
• Hinder access to safe, legal, and regulated hemp-based products for Illinois residents.

How You Can Take Action

Now is the time for action—your voice matters in this critical moment.Together, we can stop HB4293 and ensure Illinois continues to move forward, not backward.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Contact Your Legislators

Reach out to your Illinois state representatives and senators. Urge them to oppose HB4293 and highlight the negative consequences it will have on small businesses, equity, and communities across the state.

2. Sign the Petition

Add your name to our petition and show your support for Illinois hemp businesses and advocates. Visit our website [insert link] to sign the petition today.

3. Spread the Word

Share this blog post and our mission to stop HB4293 with your network. Every voice, every signature, and every act of support matters in this fight.

Together, We Can Protect Illinois Hemp

Illinois has the opportunity to be a leader in hemp innovation, education, and equity. By standing united, we can protect the thriving industry that supports countless small businesses and create pathways for growth, not criminalization. Let’s stop HB4293 in its tracks and build an inclusive, prosperous future for Illinois.

Act Now: Contact Your Legislators and Sign the Petition Here