Illinois Moves to Enforce New THC Product Rules: Sales Without a License Face Penalties of Up to $10,000 per Offense
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced in Chicago on November 12 that, as new restrictions on intoxicating THC products took effect that day, it is working with the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office and state enforcement partners to ensure businesses comply with Illinois law and consumers are protected from unlicensed products.
Under requirements established by the Illinois Hemp Act and the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, consumable or topical products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container may not be sold without a license; as of November 12, products above that threshold are treated as cannabis under the relevant state laws. A similar nationwide ban on intoxicating hemp products is scheduled to take effect on December 11.
Businesses selling cannabis without the necessary license may face enforcement actions, including cease and desist orders and civil penalties. IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. said Illinois has invested significant resources in building a cannabis industry based on accountability, transparency and consumer protection, and that the state intends to enforce those standards.
IDFPR said its initial enforcement will focus on protecting children from products resembling candy or using child-friendly packaging, protecting consumers from untested or mislabeled products, and acting against businesses falsely presenting themselves as licensed dispensaries. The department has already visited businesses suspected of unlicensed cannabis sales and will continue to investigate and file formal complaints.
Violators may face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per offense, with each day of continued unlicensed practice a separate violation. The Illinois Department of Revenue's Bureau of Criminal Investigations may also pursue tax-related enforcement, with civil fines of $1,000 to $3,000. Residents who suspect a business is selling cannabis products without a license are encouraged to file a complaint with IDFPR, including the business name, location, products offered and any photos or documentation.
(Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation)
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Springfield 的伊利诺伊州议会大厦。Daniel Schwen 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. By Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
