Hemp FAQs

Federally legal hemp products made from naturally occurring cannabinoids are popular for helping improve the quality of life for people and their pets. Unfortunately, the hemp industry is fighting for survival because straightforward regulations have not been implemented to protect people from illegitimate products. Such products include “look-alike” items packaged to appeal to children and products made with unsafe, synthetic compounds that do not occur in the hemp plant. Instead of banning all hemp products and shuttering countless responsible businesses, simple regulations are needed for age restrictions, standardized testing, and accurate labeling.

 

Does Illinois currently regulate hemp?

Yes. Hemp products in Illinois are federally legal and contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. The Illinois Department of Agriculture regulates hemp cultivation and processing, and state legislators anticipate additional hemp regulations in 2025. Local jurisdictions attempting to enact and enforce hemp regulations will likely face needless legal battles that waste precious government resources and taxpayer dollars.


Why are hemp restrictions being debated?

Hemp is federally legal, and legitimate hemp products are produced using strict quality controls. However, recent debates focus on isolated incidents involving consumption of illegitimate, “look-alike” products made to appeal to children. These spurious items often contain unsafe synthetic compounds and should be prohibited. However, banning all hemp products because of these few incidents throws the baby out with the bathwater for the entire hemp industry. It’s like banning all alcohol because of a bad batch of moonshine — it hurts responsible businesses, consumers, and our economy without addressing the real problem.


Why is hemp being discussed now?

Despite years of hemp businesses advocating for equitable policy development, some misguided legislative proposals threaten to ban all mainstream hemp products, including CBD. While rightfully targeting the manufacture and sale of illegitimate products, some ill-advised proposals would also shutter hundreds of Chicago businesses and ban all hemp products. ILHAA and its partners continue urging lawmakers to understand the difference between illegitimate “hemp” products (which should be banned) and legitimate hemp products that adhere to strict safety guidelines.


What’s being banned in some Chicago wards?

Some wards are imposing misguided bans on all federally legal hemp products, including CBD. Prohibition is not a solution. Instead, common-sense regulations prohibiting sales to minors while standardizing strict testing and labeling requirements will address public safety concerns without wiping out legitimate, responsible, federally legal hemp businesses throughout Illinois. 


Are there ways to protect public safety without decimating the hemp industry?

Yes. Effective protection comes through clear, attainable regulatory standards:

  • Age restrictions: Preventing minors from purchasing hemp products

  • Independent, third-party testing: Ensuring products meet strict safety and purity standards

  • Accurate and appropriate labeling: Ensuring product packaging accurately states contents supported by third-party independent lab testing and is not designed to appeal to children

These measures will help eliminate dangerous, unsuitable products while preserving consumer access to beneficial hemp products.


Why are Illinois and Chicago legislators considering the regulation of federally legal hemp?

Elected officials are considering laws to restrict federally legal hemp products for different reasons:

  • Public health and safety: Some inferior hemp-derived cannabinoid products lack thorough testing, accurate labeling, and/or age restrictions. ILHAA strongly supports age-gating, standardized testing, and accurate labeling to protect consumers and their pets.

  • Marketing to minors: Some illegitimate products available via bad actors are sold as “look-alike” products packaged like candy or treats appealing to children. ILHAA wants this practice to stop.

  • Sales to minors: Some irresponsible businesses, which are not representative of the entire hemp industry, sell products to those under the age of 21. ILHAA advocates restricting sales of hemp products to those 21 years of age and older.

  • Special interest group dominance: Illinois has an excessively regulated and punitively taxed marijuana market. Large, multi-state marijuana operators favor expanding their businesses and increasing profits by encouraging legislators to restrict or prohibit legal hemp sales so they have exclusive control of an even larger market.



Is the hemp industry vital to local and state economies in Illinois?

Yes. The Illinois hemp industry spurs innovation, fosters diverse ownership of thousands of small businesses, provides thousands of jobs, contributes to local and state tax revenue streams, and provides consumers safe access to popular wellness products. Banning or implementing misguided regulation of the hemp industry would hamper innovation and growth in Illinois while needlessly harming farmers, small businesses, and consumer access.


How are hemp products used?

Hemp is versatile — it’s used in wellness products, skincare products, textiles, fire-resistant building materials, bioplastics, and eco-friendly biofuels. Research and innovation continue to expand hemp’s applications, underscoring the importance of supporting — not banning or over-regulating — a robust, growing hemp industry that benefits Illinois and its residents.


Are hemp products used for pets?

Yes. According to the National Institues of Health, 28% of US owners have administered CBD to their pet. Many pet owners utilize hemp products like CBD to help manage anxiety, inflammation, pain, and end-of-life well-being for their furry companions.


What are cannabinoids?

There are more than 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in hemp and other plants, some of which show evidence for therapeutic use as noted by organizations including the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the U.S. Pain Foundation, and many more.


Is there a difference between “naturally occurring” and “synthetic” cannabinoids?

Yes. Naturally occurring cannabinoids come from the Cannabis sativa L. plant and can be safely processed under controlled conditions to create reliable, shelf-stable products. In contrast, synthetic cannabinoids are completely man-made compounds that do not exist in hemp or any plant. They may be produced in uncontrolled conditions, may not be appropriately tested or accurately labeled, and may be dangerous for consumption. ILHAA supports regulation to ensure only products made from naturally occurring cannabinoids are allowed, while synthetic cannabinoids should be prohibited.


Should safely processed, naturally occurring cannabinoids be prohibited?

No. To produce consistent, shelf-stable hemp products that are suitable for human and pet consumption, purification and routine chemical conversion processes are often essential for safety and shelf stability. Similar to processes used to make vanilla extract, these methods can be safely conducted in controlled environments with rigorous lab testing. These methods are different from those used to create synthetic cannabinoids, which should be prohibited.