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Vernon Hills board hears youth coalition, directs staff to draft ordinance on unregulated THC products
Summary
The Village Board heard a StandStrong/Stevenson Catalyst Club presentation showing hemp‑derived intoxicating THC products sold locally in youth‑targeted packaging and lacking age limits; the board directed staff and police to draft a local ordinance restricting sales outside licensed dispensaries.
Leila Nittala of the StandStrong Coalition and students from Stevenson High School told the Committee of the Whole on Nov. 18 that hemp‑derived intoxicating THC products — including delta‑8 and delta‑10 — are being sold in Vernon Hills in packaging that appeals to youth and at potencies far higher than public‑health guidance recommends. “We saw substances sold with 2,000 milligrams even in Vernon Hills, in very youth‑targeting packaging,” Nittala said.
Deputy Chief Shannon Holubetz and Chief Grease joined the presentation, describing the public‑safety and enforcement gaps caused by recent federal and state regulatory shifts. “There is no age to purchase — unregulated,” Holubetz said during the committee discussion, noting that some drinks and edible products have milligram doses far above the 10‑mg standard sometimes cited for adult recreational use.
The presenters summarized community scans showing retail availability outside licensed dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions and cited municipal ordinances that have moved sales into regulated dispensaries. StandStrong and allied coalitions said combining ordinance language with retailer education and a brief grace period produced high compliance in other towns.
After questions from trustees about enforcement, penalties and possible grace periods, the Committee of the Whole gave direction to staff and the police department to draft an ordinance that would restrict the sale of intoxicating THC derivatives in Vernon Hills to licensed dispensaries and return the draft for board consideration. Deputy Chief Holubetz and village attorneys said they had a tested framework to adapt from nearby ordinances.
The committee did not vote on an ordinance at the meeting; staff will bring a draft back for formal consideration and any required public hearing or amendment.
The discussion began with a police briefing and StandStrong presentation and concluded with broad board support for pursuing a local regulatory response.
