Springfield council adopts ordinance banning synthetically derived cannabinoids

The Springfield City Council on June 23 adopted an ordinance amending the Revised Ordinances of the City of Springfield (Chapter 2.75) by adding Article 5A to prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of synthetically derived cannabinoids, including Delta‑8 and Delta‑10.

Councilor Perez introduced the amendment "respectfully requesting amending Chapter 2.75 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Springfield by adding a new Article 5A titled prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and disposition of synthetically derived cannabinoids," and the council approved the measure on a roll-call second and final reading.

Why it matters: city officials and public health staff said the products are widely available in convenience stores, are not clearly labeled, and are disproportionately marketed toward young people. "These are really dangerous and they're illegal. I think the thing that is most important is that they're illegal and that they are impacting our youth," Commissioner Colton said during the discussion. City officials said the ordinance implements local regulation aimed at products not controlled by state regulatory programs.

Councilors who spoke during the item framed the ordinance as targeting unlicensed retail sales rather than licensed marijuana businesses. Councilor Edwards asked whether the ordinance would apply to licensed marijuana retailers; meeting speakers and the city solicitor replied that state‑licensed marijuana facilities are "highly regulated" and would not be affected by this local ordinance. Commissioner Colton and the city solicitor said the ordinance is intended for the illegal market—products sold in gas stations, bodegas and convenience stores that do not follow marijuana licensing and ID requirements.

Councilor Brown described the products as “colorful” and likened their placement and labeling to candy: "they're colorful, they're right in the candy aisle" and often omit ingredient lists, which he said raises risks for youth. Council members and public health staff also said the Public Health Council had adopted a related regulation in March and that local work on the issue began in late 2024.

Officials said the city will notify local retailers before aggressive enforcement begins. "So we don't want anybody still being in the dark about what the new change in the law is going to be. And before we start doing aggressive enforcement, we want to make sure that everybody's received notice," the city solicitor said, and Commissioner Colton said her office would send out that notice.

The ordinance was approved on second and final reading by roll call. Meeting speakers said the action is aimed at illegal products and does not change licensing or enforcement for state‑regulated marijuana retailers; enforcement details and education steps were described as the next steps for city staff.