Elmhurst Bans Sale Of Certain THC Products

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst alderman voted unanimously this week to ban the sale of certain THC products in Elmhurst, despite the objections of a local retailer.

The City Council's action targets Delta 8 and Delta 9. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

Earlier this month, the council decided to bar those under 21 from possessing such products.

During public comments, Dean Angelopoulos, owner of iVape Bar at 261 N. York St., urged against a prohibition.

"By banning these products from our town, the unintended consequences that'll have is you're basically inviting a whole host of new products in town that are potentially far more dangerous, far sketchier, possibly more synthetic. But they'll meet the standard of the new law," Angelopoulos, a lifelong Elmhurst resident, told the council. "God knows what's in them."

He said his shop doesn't sell to customers under 21. And he said nearly all of his clientele is 30 to 75.

"We only purchase from nationally distributed brands from the largest companies in the country," Angelopoulos said. "These companies have way too much at stake to do things the wrong way. Their products ... are being third-party tested by an independent accredited lab."

The council's resolution stated the city wanted to ban psychoactive substances. It also said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency opined that synthetically derived Delta 8 and Delta 9 are illegal controlled substances.