Press Statement From Illinois Healthy Alternatives (ILHAA) Regarding their letter to General Assembly About Destroying the Hemp Industry

Today the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association (ILHAA) along with hemp businesses and consumers sent a letter to the members of the Illinois General Assembly urging them not to act on HB 4293 because it would devastate local farms, small businesses, and consumers in Illinois.

Letter in Opposition to HB4293

Dear Illinois General Assembly, 

We, the undersigned members of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association (ILHAA) along with hemp businesses and consumers, urge you to reject HB4293, a bill which would destroy the hemp industry in Illinois and devastate local farms, small businesses, and consumers in Illinois for the following reasons:

• Criminalizes currently legal hemp products
• Conflicts with federal hemp production guidelines
• Lacks subject matter expert input from the hemp industry 

We ask that you respect the will of the people who cultivate, process, and use hemp in Illinois. Please preserve more than 6 years of regulatory stability and economic growth by voting NAY on HB4293 during the lame duck session! Work with us to create legislation that includes age gating and standardized testing and labeling requirements. Let’s keep children and consumers safe while allowing Illinois businesses to survive. 

While we agree with the Senators and the Governor about the need for reasonable regulation of the hemp industry, we are concerned that the technical flaws in HB4293 would cause Illinois to lose jobs and tax revenue by destroying businesses. 

Consumers and their pets would lose access to CBD and hemp products they rely on for health and wellness. 

Regulation is essential for the hemp industry, but HB4293 was introduced without meaningful input from the stakeholders who it directly impacts. The first opportunity for external review and comment on the bill’s language was May 22nd, during peak planting season for farmers. Just days later, the bill passed the Senate on May 26th. Despite this rushed timeline, 773 witness slips were filed in opposition, compared to just 32 in support, reflecting the overwhelming concerns of Illinois hemp consumers, producers, and businesses. Thoughtful collaboration with industry stakeholders is vital to crafting balanced and effective legislation. We ask you to stop HB4293 and give us an opportunity to help craft hemp industry regulation that protects both consumers and Illinois’ economy.