Q &A With James Swartz on Illinois Hemp Regulation Discussions
Swartz interview
After the 2018 Federal Farm Bill legalized hemp products in the United States, the industry rapidly expanded – often in unexpected directions. Manufacturers soon discovered ways to chemically convert hemp-derived compounds into psychoactive products that largely escaped regulation. Now, after several years of legislative gridlock, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly are once again attempting to find a compromise on regulating these products during the current veto session.
We spoke with James Swartz, PhD, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work, about the origins of the issue, the barriers to reform, and the stakes for Illinois consumers and policymakers. Read more here.
* Article reprinted from the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs