Political donations surge as Illinois lawmakers debate hemp regulations amid industry pressure
Interestingly, some of these lawmakers have been accepting campaign contributions from folks in the hemp industry. For example, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch didn’t even bring the bill to a vote, even though it seemed like it had enough support to pass.
The Council for the Safe Regulation of Delta, which includes industry members against Pritzker’s plan, donated $10,000 to Welch’s campaign. Plus, a lobbyist for the Illinois Hemp Business Association chipped in another $9,000. It’s a lot of money, but it’s not as much as what the cannabis industry has been throwing around in recent years.
The whole situation is a bit messy. While marijuana is heavily regulated in Illinois, hemp products like delta-8 are pretty much free for all. Pritzker wants to change that, arguing it’s a consumer protection issue, especially since kids can easily access these products. But the hemp businesses think it’s just a way to squash competition from big cannabis companies.
Even though the bill had support in the Senate, Welch didn’t call it for a vote, sticking to a rule that he needs at least 60 votes in his Democratic majority. There’s also been pushback from some Chicago Democrats who proposed a different plan that would limit sales to adults and require product testing.
Image Credits and Reference:
