CHICAGO CITY HALL (WBBM Newsradio) -- That convenience store on your block may soon have to unplug its "Delta-8" sign, now that Chicago aldermen have given final approval to a measure restricting sales of some products that contain intoxicating hemp.
City Council voted 32-16 on Wednesday in favor of the measure from Midway-area Ald. Marty Quinn, but Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had "serious concerns" about the proposed ordinance and did not indicate whether he would sign it.
Ald. Quinn (13th Ward) told colleagues before the vote that he'd made several changes to the proposal in response to feedback from other aldermen, including exemptions for beverages, topical ointments and pet-focused products.
"I personally contacted every member of this body," the alderman said. "We've found a path forward that ensures our kids are protected and safe, and that's the bottom line."
His proposal bans sales to people under 21, and restricts sales to licensed cannabis dispensaries.
North side Alderwoman Maria Hadden voted no, citing concerns about making it harder for people who use hemp-based products for medicinal reasons to access those treatments: "It hurts me to see us cutting off an avenue for healing for health but also for ... small businesses."
The mayor, who had hoped to regulate and tax sales of hemp-based products as a way to raise revenue for the city, said he intended to continue talking to aldermen about the proposal.
"The ultimate goal is to regulate the product ... but at the same time we don't want to exclude small businesses from participating."