Erik Carlson holds a green postcard inside Mrs. Buckbee's Wake-N-Bakery on Tuesday. In front of the sign's Chicago skyline reads "Keep Hemp Legal." In recent months, Carlson and Buckbee Weed Co. sent more than 400 of these postcards to Illinois lawmakers. The hemp store's co-owner says the effort was needed to protect his business and industry.
"The whole point is it needs to be kept legal and not just banned," Carlson says of hemp.
Since spring of 2024, lawmakers in Springfield considered a crackdown on hemp and Delta 8 products; the Illinois senate passed the regulation bill 54-1. Governor JB Pritzker threw his support behind the effort in December.
On Monday, the proposed regulation went up in smoke – to Carlson's relief. "I'm happy to see the legislative process work the way that it's supposed to," says the Buckbee co-owner. "Not being just swayed by the special interest groups and the big money."
Besides "overwhelming" opposition from hemp owners, Carlson credits Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for inspiring Democratic lawmakers to stop the bill last minute.
Read more at WIFR