So check it, y’all. On September 6th, Governor Gavin Newsom dropped a bombshell, talkin’ ’bout he might put a ban on THC in all them hemp edibles and drinks. This could straight-up wipe out the hemp game in California, like a snap of Thanos’ fingers, ya feel me?
Newsom straight up said, “We ain’t just gonna chill while these drug dealers try to slide dangerous hemp goodies into the hands of our kids.” He tryna protect the youth, but hold up, what’s this mean for the folks in the hemp biz?
The New Rules: What’s Good?
Alright, let’s break it down. The new rules that Newsom put out got three main parts:
- No one under 21 can cop any kinda industrial hemp product, not even CBD, ya dig?
- They added more intoxicatin’ cannabinoids to the list—HHC, THCP, delta-6a, and a whole bunch of others. Basically, if it gets you lit, it’s on the list.
- Any hemp food, drink, or supplement gotta have no detectable THC, and if it do got THC, it can’t have more than 5 servings in a package.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Going Down?
California’s been wrestling with the same issues that other states been facing with hemp products. The state’s legal weed industry been struggling too, thanks to a big ol’ illegal market and some local spots not even lettin’ legal cannabis businesses set up shop.
They tried to pass AB 2223 to regulate the same kinda stuff, but it got stuck in committee. That bill was gonna say hemp products could only have 0.25 mg of THC per serving. But now, with this new proposal, it’s like they goin’ in for the kill.
Potential Upsides of This Ban
Now, let’s be real. Newsom did point out some valid reasons for this ban:
- Some of these THC-infused snacks and drinks look like they straight-up meant for kids. So this ban could prevent that.
- Adding more intoxicatin’ cannabinoids to the list means folks can’t just slip through loopholes. No shady business, ya know?
- It’s common sense that intoxicating products shouldn’t be sold to minors, and this law backs that up.
We hollered at Christopher J. Lackner, the big boss at the Hemp Beverage Alliance, and he echoed the importance of not targeting children. He said, “Hemp drinks are meant for grown folks. We all about age checkin’ and proper labeling.”
The Flip Side: The Dark Side of the Ban
But hold up, fam. The flip side is kinda grim. Most of the hemp products would be catchin’ the ban, which is like signing the death warrant for the hemp industry.
Why ban THC in hemp if you already banning it for the kids? Some folks say you could just limit the dosage to keep it safe, like 2 mg max per serving. Also, most natural hemp extracts got low enough THC to not mess with folks, but gettin’ it down to undetectable levels? That’s a whole headache.
Lackner also pointed out how it’s wild that adult beverages get a pass. He said, “Adults out here looking for alternatives to alcohol, and many are turning to hemp drinks like seltzers and teas. We think these low-dose THC drinks should be sold right next to beers and wines.”
A Death Knell for Hemp in Cali?
With California’s cannabis industry already on shaky ground, this proposal seems like it’s only gonna make things worse. Sure, it might mean more business for the cannabis side, but we could see both industries fall flat, with more folks just heading to the black market for their fix.
What’s Next for Cali Hemp?
So what’s gonna happen next? These new rules are gonna kick in soon as California’s Office of Administrative Law gives the green light. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is talkin’ ‘bout fightin’ this proposal legally, and California NORML is pushing to let hemp extracts with a CBD:THC ratio of 15:1 slide through.
What Can You Do?
If you livin’ in California, now’s the time to step up. Call your local reps, hit up the governor’s office, and let ‘em know how these changes gonna mess with you or your hustle. Don’t sleep on this!