Ohio House Passes Tighter Restrictions on Hemp Sales
Last week, the Ohio House passed a bill that will make changes to the state’s marijuana laws and add regulations to intoxicating hemp products.
Ohio Senate Bill 56, which is in its 18th version, passed with a vote of 87-8. The bill now heads back to the Senate for concurrence, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
Under the new legislation, the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived products like gummies and edibles will be restricted to licensed dispensaries. Key provisions for intoxicating hemp products include:
THC caps: Sets limits on the amount of THC per serving and per package for intoxicating hemp products.
Age restrictions: Requires all purchases to be made by individuals 21 or older, aligning with restrictions for adult-use marijuana.
Sales restrictions: Prevents intoxicating hemp products from being sold at convenience stores, vape shops, and gas stations.
Licensing requirements: Mandates licensing for businesses selling these products, creating a regulated market.
Public safety: Addresses concerns that these products, which can often resemble candy, are marketed to children.
“This is becoming more and more an issue around the country but it quite unusual in a state that has passed laws permitting the sale of medical marijuana,” says John Hickey, head of the Cannabis Law practice group at national law firm Hall Estill. “The issue is that many hemp growers sell products that they claim are within the limits of the law but are not. Often times the testing of hemp products can reveal that the THC content exceeds the legal limit, and that limit can change over time after the plant is harvested.”
“What Ohio is attempting to do is to further regulate medical marijuana that is being sold as hemp,” he continues. “From the standpoint of the medical marijuana industry, this is a positive step to make sure that there is a level playing field when it comes to selling medical marijuana in the marketplace.”
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