Illinois Hemp Growers Push Back on Key Legislative Issue

Association Pushes Back on Pending Bill They Say Will Harm the Industry

[The following is sponsored content from Illinois Hemp Growers Association.]

The Illinois hemp industry is disappointed to see that Governor Pritzker is encouraging the House to reconsider failed legislation HB4293. A bill which is anti-competitive and shortsighted. A bill which saw a plethora of lawmakers remove themselves as sponsors during the 2024 spring session due to its harmful strategy.

Make no mistake, HB4293 is not a stakeholder bill. It’s a matter of public record that the first chance for external stakeholders to review and comment on the language was on May 22nd, a time at which nearly all producing stakeholders are busy with planting. The bill passed through the Senate almost unanimously on May 26th. Despite its incredibly rushed deployment, 773 witness slips were signed in opposition against 32 proponents. 96% of external stakeholders rebuked Leader Lightford’s strategy.

HB4293 is again being rushed - this time through a lame duck session immediately following the holiday season - without any changes or lessons learned from the end of the spring session. HB4293 is a bill that will recriminalize a majority of the hemp industry and the Illinois Hemp Growers Association (IHGA) is strongly opposed. There is no compromise with the hemp industry in this bill. This bill will hurt farms and small businesses across the state.

We strongly support HB5903, introduced by Representative Harper, which addresses all of the public safety concerns that the Governor and Leader Lightford have raised while maintaining the opportunity for all citizens to participate in the hemp production program as it is currently codified. The IHGA will continue to represent the hemp industry’s best interests throughout the entire state, oppose harmful legislation like HB4293, and promote the common sense approach of legislation like HB5903.

In response to this renewed push for HB4293 and to further promote grassroots hemp reform with HB5903, we have bumped up our 2025 Hemp Lobby Day Rally from January 7th to Saturday, January 4th from 9AM-4PM in the IL State Capital Rotunda.

Make your voice heard and sign up at Illinoishga.com/2025lobbyday.