California Governor Gavin Newsom seems pleased with the results of emergency rules banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products in his state.
In 1996, California became the first US state to allow medicinal cannabis use and then in 2016 the state’s voters legalized recreational use. However, in more recent years intoxicating hemp products have been widely available across the state, including from retail outlets such as gas stations and businesses licensed to sell alcohol. Of particular concern has been availability to youth.
This has been possible through a loophole in federal law via the 2018 Farm Bill, allowing products created by manipulating hemp-derived non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) into various forms of THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids. These are still considered hemp products, which are separately regulated from the legal cannabis market in California.
The situation was such that the governor announced emergency regulations in September 2024 banning the sale of these products and only allowing complying hemp products to be sold to those over the age of 21. Those regulations were set to expire in March this year, but the California Department of Public Health has readopted them.
The crackdown on intoxicating hemp has seen Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents visiting 11,445 licensed businesses so far, which has resulted in the removal of 7,151 illegal products from 148 locations. That’s up from 9,251 locations inspected and 7,007 hemp products seized from 141 violators we reported in April. Businesses flouting the law face consequences such as criminal penalties and loss of license.
So, what sort of effect has the crackdown had – have the emergency regulations and inspections been successful? The increase in inspections without a corresponding increase in seizures suggests so.
According to a release from the Governor’s office late last week, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has seen 99.7% compliance among business licensees so far this year.
“On the few occasions when ABC agents found items during inspections, they’ve ensured these harmful products are removed from shelves,” said ABC Chief Deputy Director Frank Robles.
In the latest ABC weekly update covering the period ending 4 May, 218 businesses were visited, 2 were found in violation and 57 products seized. This was the highest number of seizures in a week since late December last year.
The ABC said anyone wanting to file a complaint concerning illegal hemp products at a licensed location can submit it via ABC’s complaints page.
California Governor Gavin Newsom seems pleased with the results of emergency rules banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products. Read More
