Chicago proposes taxing hemp products to raise $10M, with age limits, licensing, and safety rules.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing a plan to tax and regulate hemp products that can produce a high, aiming to generate $10 million for the city’s 2026 budget. The proposal would impose a $2-per-item tax, ban sales to those under 21, require a $1,750 license, and restrict packaging and locations near schools and childcare centers. Products must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC, with city health officials able to test samples and ban harmful substances, though specific contaminants are not yet defined. The move comes amid stalled state and city efforts, driven by frustration over missed revenue from 2019 marijuana legalization and competing industry interests.