Chicago City Council fails to override Mayor Johnson's veto of ban on hemp product sales

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago City Council has failed to override Mayor Brandon Johnson's veto of a ban on the sale of most intoxicating hemp products.

The full council met to discuss multiple topics Wednesday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

There was a moment of silence for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson at the meeting. The civil rights icon's influence loomed large over Chicago's City Council and mayors for decades, including Johnson.

"To me he as a dear friend, mentor, and role model," Johnson said. "As an organizer, at the time in which I was campaigning, I could always count on him for advice and encouragement."

It was then back to business at City's Council's second full meeting of the year.

An attempt at resurrecting a ban on hemp products failed as the mayor's veto of the measure did not have enough votes for an override. There was debate on both sides.

"This particular ordinance was passed to protect children who are being fed and misled," 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale said.

"This is less about reefer madness and more about a government being be able to properly regulate something if they are going to allow it," 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez said.

Also failed was Ald. Daniel La Spata's amendment that would enforce 311 complaints made by Chicagoans who use their cell phones to provide evidence of bus, bike land and crosswalk parking violations. La Spata blames his colleagues who voted against it for accepting deadly accidents.

"It says that the current number who die annually due to traffic violence is acceptable," La Spata said. "That number is around 100 a year. I think that I horrendous and gross and a dereliction of our duty to the city."

But, another traffic-related ordinance did pass. Because of the number of bridges being closed for repair at once, City Council will require Chicago's Department of Transportation to appear at city council to explain their plans 30 days before closing a bridge.

"It will create more transparency and accountability," La Spata said.