Chicago hemp product ban could shut down small businesses as mayor weighs veto

A sweeping new Chicago City Council ordinance banning many hemp-derived products could force some small businesses to close, opponents warn.

Supporters have argued the move is necessary to protect children from intoxicating substances, but business owners are sounding the alarm as Mayor Brandon Johnson weighs whether to approve or veto the measure.

The ordinance, passed last month, restricts the sale of a wide range of hemp products, including many that business owners say are non-intoxicating and commonly used for wellness purposes such as sleep, stress and pain management.

Because the measure did not pass with a veto-proof majority, Johnson is now weighing whether to reject it before it is scheduled to take effect April 1.

At Cubbington’s Cabinet in Roscoe Village, co-founder Jeremy Dedic says the ordinance could quickly shut down the store he helped open five years ago.

“It’ll eradicate our ability to sell the products that we sell, as well as I don’t know how many other businesses like ours,” Dedic said.

Dedic says while the ordinance is framed as a ban on intoxicating hemp products, its language goes much further.

“It was presented as an ordinance to ban all intoxicating hemp products, but in the language of the ordinance, it essentially bans all hemp products, with a few exceptions,” he said.

Johnson has publicly acknowledged concerns from business owners affected by the ordinance.

“There are thousands of small businesses that have been or are being threatened by this ordinance,” Johnson said during a recent news conference. “As we continue to build safe and affordable communities, it’s imperative that we encourage business and economic activity and vibrancy.”

Supporters of the ordinance argue Chicago leaders made the right call.

Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, says hemp-derived THC products pose a danger to children and communities and lack proper regulation.

“It’s bad enough we have all kinds of legal marijuana-based products that are sending kids to the emergency room,” Sabet said. “We don’t need hemp products on top of them.”

Critics of the ordinance warn it could push consumers toward online sellers or the illicit market, while leaving neighborhood storefronts vacant.

With April 1 approaching, business owners say time is running out.