Ohio lawmakers are considering a new bill that aims to regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products. Senate Bill 86 would restrict these products to adult-use marijuana dispensaries, preventing sales at convenience stores, smoke shops, or gas stations. Additionally, the proposed legislation would impose a 15 percent tax on these products and prohibit sales to individuals under 21 years old.
Support for the bill came from various stakeholders, including those in the marijuana industry, poison control workers, and religious organizations. Joshua Smith, the owner of Southern Ohio Botanicals, highlighted the issue of unregulated shops, stating that “fake, pop-up, poser dispensaries are exploiting loopholes in hemp laws.” He emphasized that these shops mislead consumers into thinking they are licensed establishments.
The bill, introduced by Ohio state Senators Steve Huffman and Shane Wilkin, would require that intoxicating hemp products be tested and meet specific standards for packaging, labeling, and advertising. It focuses on products that can be ingested or inhaled. According to a study from the Ohio State University Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, Ohio is one of around 20 states that currently regulate intoxicating hemp products, a situation that arose from the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill permitting hemp to be grown with less than 0.3 percent THC.
Smith further criticized the lack of oversight in the current system, pointing out that unregulated dispensaries compromise consumer safety. He noted that there is no way to verify the sourcing or safety testing of cannabis sold at these rogue shops. Unlike regulated dispensaries, which provide prepackaged and lab-tested products, these shops often weigh out cannabis in front of customers without any quality control measures.
Fadi Boumitri, CEO of Ascension BioMedical, expressed concern about the proliferation of shops selling intoxicating hemp products. He mentioned that there are ten such shops within a 1.5-mile radius of his home, impacting small cultivation businesses disproportionately.
Dr. Hannah Hays, the medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center, shared alarming statistics about cannabis-related poisonings. She reported a 20-fold increase in such cases across all age groups since 2019. Furthermore, exposure to cannabinoid products, particularly delta-8 THC, has surged over 330 percent among young children since 2021. Hays warned that access to these products can lead to severe health issues, including hallucinations and seizures.
Chris Lindsey, director of state advocacy for the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, recounted his experience purchasing intoxicating hemp products from a convenience store in Columbus. He revealed that one piece of candy contained an astonishing 500 milligrams of THC, which could potentially harm even large animals if ingested. He cautioned that consumers need to be extremely careful to avoid overdose when consuming such products.
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