# Illinois' hemp THC ban starts Thursday. Chicago's own ban passed 32 to 16 and was vetoed. Here's how they fit

*The state ban takes effect Nov. 12 for most sellers; about 250 businesses that sued get a pause until a Nov. 19 court hearing. The Council's January ban never took effect.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Most stores in Chicago that sell hemp-derived THC drinks, edibles and similar products have to stop on Thursday, when a new state law takes effect. Products with more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will be treated as cannabis, sold only by licensed dispensaries, [Block Club Chicago reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/11/10/illinois-delays-hemp-thc-ban-for-250-businesses-that-sued-over-it/).

Why it matters: Chicago spent much of last winter fighting over its own ban. The Council passed one 32 to 16 in January; the Mayor vetoed it and the Council couldn't override him. The state is now doing what the City didn't.

## What happens Thursday

- Who must stop: businesses not part of a federal lawsuit against the state must stop selling and making hemp THC products above the limit by Thursday or risk fines and enforcement, the [Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/small-business/2026/11/10/illinois-hemp-thc-ban-lawsuit-businesses).
- Who gets a pause: the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association and five hemp businesses sued Nov. 5, arguing the law violates the Commerce Clause. The state agreed not to enforce it against them through Nov. 19. The association says it represents about 250 companies, Block Club reported.
- Nov. 19: U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold hears arguments on the plaintiffs' request to block the law, the Sun-Times reported.
- The federal timeline: Illinois' law follows federal rules from a 2025 spending bill. The federal deadline was recently pushed to Dec. 11, but Illinois kept its November date, the Sun-Times reported. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the state law in June.

## What the Council did

Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) introduced a citywide ban in November 2025 ([SO2025-0021018](/matter/SO2025-0021018-adding-new-regarding-cannabinoid-hemp-product)). Before the final vote, it was rewritten to exempt THC drinks, CBD topicals and products for animals, [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/11/proposed-hemp-ban-now-has-exemption-for-thc-drinks/) at the time. The exemption let businesses with liquor licenses keep selling THC beverages. The Council passed it Jan. 21, 32 to 16, [WTTW reported](https://news.wttw.com/2026/01/21/city-council-votes-32-16-ban-sale-most-intoxicating-hemp-products-chicago-some).

How each ward voted: [SO2025-0021018](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021018-adding-new-regarding-cannabinoid-hemp-product)

Johnson vetoed it. He called it premature with a federal ban coming, and said he was vetoing it "as it is written," [FOX 32 reported](https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/city-council-falls-short-attempt-reinstate-hemp-ban). On Feb. 18 an override attempt failed. Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said the ordinance was "passed to protect children," and Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) said the issue was "less about reefer madness and more about a government being able to properly regulate something," [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-city-council-fails-override-mayor-brandon-johnsons-veto-ban-hemp-product-sales/18617562/). The override got 26 votes to 20, short of two-thirds, according to [a trade publication's account](https://roundtable.io/news/american-hemp-monitor/hemp/chicago-mayor-s-veto-of-hemp-ban-stands-override-effort-came-up-short).

## What our records add

The co-sponsors. Quinn's ban had 13 co-sponsors: Napolitano (41st), Gardiner (45th), O'Shea (19th), Reilly (42nd), Tabares (23rd), Hopkins (2nd), Hall (6th), Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), Harris (8th), Gutiérrez (14th), Mitts (37th), Villegas (36th) and Mosley (21st). Two of them broke from it on the final roll call: Manaa-Hoppenworth voted no, and Hall is recorded as not voting.

Smaller bans already passed. Before the citywide fight, the Council passed bans on hemp product sales in specific areas, including the O'Hare residential area ([O2025-0017556](/matter/O2025-0017556-prohibiting-sale-cannabinoid-hemp-products-ohare)), the Belmont Cragin-Hermosa area ([O2025-0016755](/matter/O2025-0016755-prohibit-cannabinoid-hemp-products-belmont-cragin)) and the Lake Calumet area ([SO2025-0014904](/matter/SO2025-0014904-prohibit-cannabinoid-hemp-products-lake-calumet)), all in 2025.

What the state law doesn't change. City licensing, zoning and the ward-level bans stay as they are. The state rule covers what can be sold outside dispensaries anywhere in Illinois.

## What to watch

The Nov. 19 hearing decides whether the 250 or so businesses in the lawsuit can keep selling. If the judge blocks the law more broadly, the Council could see Quinn's issue again.


## Legislation in this story

- [Amendment of Municipal Code Chapters 4-4, 4-60 and 8-16 by adding new sections regarding cannabinoid hemp product definitions, regulations, health requirements and hemp product offenses involving minors and deletion of Section 4-4-333 in entirety (Vetoed)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021018-adding-new-regarding-cannabinoid-hemp-product) (SO2025-0021018)

## Sources

1. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021018: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapters 4-4, 4-60 and 8-16 by adding new sections regarding cannabinoid hemp product definitions, regulations, health requirements and hemp product offenses involving minors and deletion of Section 4-4-333 in entirety (Vetoed)](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=CF7E384B-75C1-F011-BBD2-001DD80AA671)
2. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021018, Legislation: Mayoral Veto of SO2025-0021018.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/2ac777f8-a99a-4192-a995-27a4c01d29c0.pdf)
3. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021018, Miscellaneous: O2025-0021018 Cosponsor W8.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/438288a8-1f93-4b56-8033-1290907e1351.pdf)
4. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021018, Miscellaneous: Citywide Hemp Ban Co-Sponsor Form.W21.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/62c1c128-a4f5-435f-a2a2-207fd0236bd4.pdf)
5. City Clerk: [SO2025-0021018, Miscellaneous: O2025-0021018 co-sponsor Hopkins.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/662c0c6a-f84c-4fdd-aa79-d83d8564c09c.pdf)
6. City of Chicago: [City Council, Jan 21, 2026: meeting video](https://vimeo.com/1156547113)
7. City Clerk: [City Council, Jan 21, 2026: Agenda](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/4b732b69-70e5-45ed-a82e-0b7c2fc1598b.pdf)
8. City Clerk: [City Council, Jan 21, 2026: Notice](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/1d068ae3-fa83-42ef-89d5-a3bff7d4eaa6.pdf)
9. Block Club Chicago: [Block Club Chicago reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/11/10/illinois-delays-hemp-thc-ban-for-250-businesses-that-sued-over-it/)
10. Chicago Sun-Times: [Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/small-business/2026/11/10/illinois-hemp-thc-ban-lawsuit-businesses)
11. Block Club Chicago: [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/11/proposed-hemp-ban-now-has-exemption-for-thc-drinks/)
12. WTTW: [WTTW reported](https://news.wttw.com/2026/01/21/city-council-votes-32-16-ban-sale-most-intoxicating-hemp-products-chicago-some)
13. fox32chicago.com: [FOX 32 reported](https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/city-council-falls-short-attempt-reinstate-hemp-ban)
14. ABC7: [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-city-council-fails-override-mayor-brandon-johnsons-veto-ban-hemp-product-sales/18617562/)
15. roundtable.io: [a trade publication's account](https://roundtable.io/news/american-hemp-monitor/hemp/chicago-mayor-s-veto-of-hemp-ban-stands-override-effort-came-up-short)
16. Chicago Politics: [SO2025-0021018: votes, timeline and summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2025-0021018-adding-new-regarding-cannabinoid-hemp-product)
17. Chicago Politics: [City Council, Jan 21, 2026: transcript](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1156547113.txt)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/illinois-hemp-thc-ban-thursday-chicago-council-ban-vetoed-override-failed · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt