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Good Vibes Smoke Shop tells Kankakee council proposed ordinance 2025-26 would harm lawful local businesses
Summary
A representative of Good Vibes Smoke Shop urged the council to reject a local ban on hemp-derived products, arguing that federal and state policy, testing and licensing bills make regulation preferable to a local ban.
Amanda Thompson, speaking on behalf of Good Vibes Smoke Shop during public comment at the April 21 Kankakee City Council meeting, asked the council to reconsider a proposed local ban identified in the meeting as "ordinance 2025-26." Thompson said the shop does not sell products that pose known public-safety risks and urged regulation rather than prohibition.
"We do not sell kratom, synthetic spice, bath salts, or any other substances that pose public safety risk," Amanda Thompson said. She added that the shop's products "come from licensed Illinois distributors adhering to state safety, packaging, and labeling guidelines" and that packaging is not aimed at children.
Thompson told the council that a local ban would put Kankakee out of alignment with federal and Illinois law and would hurt responsible local businesses by shifting sales to other towns or unregulated online sources. She cited federal and state legislative context, including the 2018 Farm Bill and specific state bills mentioned in her remarks — a House bill she identified as House Bill 4,293 (fall 2024 veto session) and a Senate bill she referenced as S.B. 00020 (current session) — and urged the council to pursue licensing, testing and labeling standards rather than an outright local prohibition.
Thompson concluded by offering the council an opportunity to visit her store and discuss regulatory approaches.
Why it matters The council received a public appeal to limit or reverse a proposed local ban on hemp-derived products that the speaker said remain federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and are governed by Illinois law and pending state proposals. No formal action on Ordinance 2025-26 occurred in the meeting; Thompson's remarks were part of the public-comment period.
What the council did at the meeting There was no recorded motion or vote on Ordinance 2025-26 during the April 21 meeting. Thompson’s presentation was entered into the record during public comment and the council proceeded with its agenda approvals and resolutions.
Source and next steps Thompson said state legislation under consideration would provide a regulatory framework the council could adopt instead of a local ban. Any formal council action on Ordinance 2025-26 would have to appear on a future agenda for committee or the full council.
