With the clock ticking toward a federal ban on hemp-THC products in November 2026, there’s still plenty of movement happening at the city, state and federal level around regulating intoxicating hemp products.
Here’s a look at some recent developments:
As we reported last week, a Chicago City Council committee advanced a proposal to prohibit the sale of all hemp-THC products citywide within 10 days of passage of the ordinance.
But a crucial amendment was added to the proposal Wednesday, one that would spare hemp-THC drinks from the ban at restaurants and other locations with tavern licenses. Convenience stores under 2,000 square feet would still be prohibited from selling the products.
“I want to thank Ald. Quinn (who introduced the amendment) for bringing us to the table,” Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia said, according to a Block Club report. “I’d rather be at the table than on the menu.”
A full city council vote on the proposal has been delayed, potentially until later December.
In Ohio, lawmakers this week approved legislation that would prohibit the sale of all hemp-based products with more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC, as well as those containing synthetic cannabinoids, unless they’re sold at a licensed dispensary. The bill awaits the governor’s approval, though it is expected Gov. Mike DeWine will sign off on it. The legislation would take effect 90 days after it is signed.
Drinks with no more than 5 milligrams of THC would remain legal for sale, manufacture and distribution in Ohio until Dec. 31, 2026.
Ohio’s legislation does, however, include a provision to reexamine the 0.4 milligram limit if it is increased at the federal level.
At the federal level, Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley on Wednesday reintroduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA), the first comprehensive hemp-THC regulatory bill introduced since the passage of the spending bill that would effectively ban the products starting in November 2026.
The legislation would set 21 as the minimum age to buy hemp-THC products and would set a serving size limit of 5 milligrams of THC for edibles and beverages. It would also mandate safety testing for all products, as well as truth in labeling practices.
“The hemp industry stands firmly behind Senator Wyden’s effort to replace confusion with clarity and prohibition with practical regulation,” Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, said in a statement. “It takes important steps to protect consumers, ensure products are safe and kept out of the hands of children, while preserving access to the hemp-derived products that millions of Americans rely on for their health and wellness.”
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