Two parallel bills addressing accidental cannabis ingestion were recently introduced in the current Illinois legislative session. Sen. Michael E. Hastings introduced Senate Bill 2866 (SB2866), and Rep. Norma Hernandez introduced House Bill 4501 (HB4501). Both bills would require additional mandatory signage for dispensaries and warning labels for cannabis-infused products.

The following amendments are included in both bills:

-One amendment states that the “Purchaser education and support” must include “Information on the use of locked storage bags to prevent access by children.”

-Another amendment for labeling adds: “Cannabis products should be kept away from children and safely stored in a locked storage container.”

-The new bill also would add mandatory signage for dispensing organizations that sell edible cannabis-infused products stating the following: “Cannabis products should be kept away from children and safely stored in a locked storage container.”

-A new section under “Prevention of unintentional ingestion” states, “All dispensing organizations that are authorized to serve registered qualifying patients, caregivers, or purchasers and that offer cannabis-infused products or cannabis-infused products intended for topical use must stock for sale lockable, opaque storage containers designed to prevent access to cannabis products by children.”

-The final amendments were added to the cannabis-infused edibles and topicals sections in which the following labeling must be included: “This product must be stored out of reach of children and should be in a locked container. In case of accidental ingestion, call the Illinois Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.”

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