Newsom is now proposing banning hemp THC in California, which would affect many businesses who’ve built a name in the community.
Governor Gavin Newsom took a decisive step on Friday against the rapidly growing hemp industry by filing emergency rules that would ban THC—an intoxicating compound found in cannabis—from hemp products in California.
Hemp products are currently sold outside of regulated cannabis stores and can be found online or at various retail locations, including gas stations.
Newsom stated that these emergency measures are essential for protecting children, saying, “We will not sit idly by as drug peddlers target our children with dangerous and unregulated hemp products containing THC.”
He emphasized the need to close loopholes and enhance enforcement to prevent minors from accessing these potentially harmful products.
Under the proposed rules, all hemp products in California would need to contain “no detectable amount of total THC,” and purchasers would have to be at least 21 years old.
These regulations still require approval from the California Office of Administrative Law before taking effect.
Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, but while marijuana remains federally illegal, Congress legalized hemp in 2018.
This legalization has led to a surge in hemp products, which range from intoxicating vape pens and beverages to non-intoxicating medical tinctures.
The hemp industry has gained popularity due to its less stringent regulations, making it cheaper for companies to produce and for consumers to purchase compared to regulated cannabis.
Some licensed marijuana companies in California have even shifted focus from the legal cannabis market to hemp production.
The California Cannabis Industry, a trade organization representing licensed marijuana businesses, praised Newsom’s emergency regulations, stating they would “create a safer, more transparent marketplace”, reports SF Gate.
They commended the governor for addressing intoxicating hemp products and protecting public health while maintaining the integrity of California’s cannabis laws.
Earlier this year, the California legislature attempted to curb the hemp industry with a proposed bill, but it stalled due to concerns about restricting access to hemp products used for life-saving medical purposes.
Newsom’s emergency rules also seem poised to limit access to medical hemp products.
As of Friday, Newsom had not responded to requests for comment from SFGATE.
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