(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – If you want to write the story of what didn’t get done during the Illinois General Assembly’s lame duck session, you can include the proposed regulation of “intoxicating hemp.” It passed the Senate but never came up in the House.

“I was tremendously disappointed,” said Gov. Pritzker in Normal Tuesday about the demise of a top legislative priority of his. “This is a demonstration, from my perspective, of the power of special interests and the money they spread around to thwart health and safety of the public.”

What’s worse, Pritzker said, House Democrats opposing the bill mistreated his staffers during a meeting with lawmakers, and – adds the governor – House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) let it happen.

Publicity about the bill was over hemp derivatives packaged to look like candy or other snacks.

The bill’s opponents within the hemp industry criticized it as anti-business.

The bill will have to start all over again in the new General Assembly, which convenes Wednesday.