Rockford Register Star, Aug. 24, 2024
By Lincoln Bias is co-owner of a Rockford-based Buckbee Weed Company store.
In these defining moments, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of destiny.
Our world, our home, and our very way of life are under threat. But within each of us lies the power to change the course of history and to meet these challenges head-on.
Look around you — our communities, our environment, and our future generations depend on the actions we take today.
What we see happening right now in Rockford is something special — storefronts turning their lights back on, a growing food scene, and a downtown where people actually choose to spend their time. The rebirth and revitalization of our downtown has been a deeply personal, community-driven mission so our children, grandchildren, and new residents can be successful and realize their dreams.
As co-owner of a Buckbee Weed Company store in downtown Rockford, I’m extremely proud to have worked with my neighbors, friends, and family to help get us here. I’ll continue to do all I can to promote a more inclusive community for everyone to succeed.
My entry into the hemp business was driven by a personal mission after my sister was diagnosed with cancer. After moving to Illinois, I got discouraged by the countless barriers to breaking into our state’s marijuana industry. Fortunately, I found a valuable partnership with Buckbee Seed Company through its Social Equity and Economic Development (S.E.E.D.) initiative.
Partnering with Buckbee wasn’t just about business; it was an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our community. When I met the folks at Buckbee, I saw a chance for a collaboration that could benefit us both and, most importantly, Rockford. Together we’ve opened a welcoming hemp retail shop that’s bringing fresh energy to Rockford’s South Side.
Unfortunately, the Illinois General Assembly has been considering a ban on several hemp products, which could seriously hurt this growing industry and make it more difficult for people to get access to products that improve their quality of life.
An outright ban on lawful hemp products will have a negative ripple effect on small businesses like mine.
There is a good, effective, and positive alternative: State or local laws requiring customers to be at least 21, mandating strict product testing and labeling guidelines, and imposing a practical tax framework will help keep consumers safe, support local businesses, and provide fair opportunities for new entrepreneurs.
Business owners like myself have been advocating for years for laws that will make sure businesses prioritizing safe, quality products can succeed while protecting customers from bad actors who take dangerous shortcuts.
One of the things that most excited me about the hemp industry is how minorities are able to enter and succeed in this business. I spent years trying to break into Illinois’ recreational marijuana sector with nothing to show for it, but it all worked out in the end. Being able to provide legal hemp-derived products has been far more rewarding than I anticipated, helping many people who seek their therapeutic benefits.
Organizations like the Illinois Hemp Business Association, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, and the Social Equity Empowerment Network are working to elevate minority-owned hemp businesses.
Last month, I was proud to receive a Hemp Black Excellence Award presented by these organizations to celebrate diversity in this industry that I’ve come to love.
With thoughtful regulations, we can continue to build an inclusive and thriving Rockford for everyone. We can not only protect public health but also help create a strong foundation to support a diverse and thriving hemp industry, building a stronger, more vibrant community.
I hope our state and local leaders will advocate for smart regulations and work together to make Illinois, and Rockford, a great place for all of us.
Together, we can and will make a difference. For our families, for our communities, for our world. The future is ours to create.