A Chicago City Council Committee is considering an ordinance that would ban hemp products ahead of a federal ban that the industry expects will be changed before it’s set to take effect late next year.
The proposal from Alderman Marty Quinn would limit sales of intoxicating hemp products to cannabis dispensaries.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is opposed, favoring regulation that had been part of his budget proposal before the federal ban was signed into law.
“We don't think it's prudent or helpful to our local businesses to preemptively cut ourselves off from what has become a big business,” said Johnson’s policy chief, Jung Yoon. “We totally agree that the easy access to these intoxicating products to children is a big problem. We would much prefer limits like bans for sales to people under 21, limiting it to tobacco licensee and liquor licensee locations.”
She noted that the federal ban is likely to be changed in the coming year.
Glenn McElfresh, co-founder of a local hemp beverage company, says “this ordinance puts real people’s livelihoods on the line.”
He said during a press conference at Revolution Brewing on Tuesday that there’s a big difference between those in the 100-million-dollar Illinois hemp beverage industry who favor regulation and what he called “mystery gas station synthetics and unregulated, often imported items that have shaped public misperceptions.”
Press release:
Chicago Hemp Beverage Industry Urges City Council to Reject Proposed City-Wide Ban – Calls for Regulation, Not Prohibition
CHICAGO - Dec. 2, 2025 - More than 100 hemp and beverage industry leaders, retailers, brewers, and community members gathered virtually and in-person today at Revolution Brewing to speak out against a proposed ordinance that would ban the sale of hemp-derived beverages and CBD products in Chicago retail stores. Local manufacturers, distributors, and business owners warned that the ordinance — introduced abruptly and scheduled for a committee vote tomorrow — would eliminate hundreds of Chicago jobs, wipe out millions in revenue, push consumers toward unregulated channels, and undermine the federal shift toward regulating (not banning) hemp consumables by 2026.
“This proposal would destroy an entire category that Chicago businesses have “This proposal would destroy an entire category that Chicago businesses have built responsibly and safely,” said Glenn McElfresh, co-founder of Plift and Perfectly Dosed. “We are not asking for a free pass. We are asking for common-sense regulation — not a rushed prohibition that punishes responsible operators.”
Illinois hemp beverages generated over $100 million in revenue in 2025, representing one of the fastest-growing segments in the state’s emerging beverage economy.
Industry leaders emphasized a simple ask: delay the vote and bring industry stakeholders, regulators, and public health experts to the table to craft a solution that protects consumers — not one that eliminates an entire category.
“It’s not often that a business person shows up at City Council asking for more regulation and to pay more taxes — but that’s exactly what several of us are here to do today,” said Josh Deth, founder of Revolution Brewing.
Recent polling reflects overwhelming public support: an October McLaughlin & Associates survey found that 72% of Americans want hemp products kept legal with regulation, and 47% have purchased a hemp product or know someone who has.
Stephen Bossu, co-founder of Hopewell Brewing Co. and member of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, noted that the organization represents 53 family-led Chicago businesses crafting safe, enjoyable products built off core Chicago values. “These businesses deserve the same thoughtful regulation afforded to alcoholic beverages,” Bossu said. Andrea Slinde, COO and co-founder of Plift and Perfectly Dosed, highlighted how hemp beverages serve as accessible, regulated alcohol alternatives for adults seeking moderation, wellness support, or non-alcoholic social options. “An outright ban would undo years of progress overnight,” she said. Danny Romano, CEO of Romano Beverage, underscored the category’s rapid rise: hemp beverages grew from 0.5% of total beverage sales in 2024 to 25% in 2025. “The market demands it. This isn’t fringe — it’s a major revenue driver supporting thousands of Chicagoans,” Romano said. Lorenzo Jin, marketing coordinator for Big Onion Hospitality, added that THC beverages are currently the fastest-growing item on their menu, citing Gallup research indicating alcohol consumption is at an all-time low — with thousands relying on hemp alternatives by choice or necessity. The message is clear: consumers deserve safe choices, not prohibition. Hemp products offer adults modern alternatives for relaxation, sleep support, anxiety reduction, and pain relief — and are widely used by veterans, seniors, and pet owners. Chicago, as a global food-and-beverage capital, should be leading, not restricting, consumer choice.