Groundwork Holdings Praises California’s Proposal to Readopt Intoxicating Hemp Ban

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has readopted emergency regulations (set to expire this month) banning intoxicating hemp products for an additional 90 days.

In response, Tiffany Devitt, Chief of Regulatory Affairs at Groundwork Holdings, Inc., and co-author of The Great Hemp Hoax, issued the following:

“We strongly commend Governor Newsom and CDPH’s proposal to extend these critical regulations. Our recent research exposed 'The Great Hemp Hoax' – revealing that 95% of tested products masquerading as 'hemp' actually contain prohibited synthetic cannabinoids with potencies far exceeding what's allowed in California's regulated cannabis market.

These aren't harmless wellness products – they're laboratory-created designer drugs that pose serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers. Some products contained up to 32 times the legal THC limit, with many spiked with dangerously potent synthetics like THCP, which can be 30 times stronger than natural THC.

While this extension provides essential temporary protection, emergency regulations alone cannot solve this crisis. We urge the Legislature to act decisively by permanently placing all intoxicating cannabinoid products under the state's robust cannabis regulatory framework – exactly as California voters intended. 

Supporting legislation like Assembly Bill 8 (Aguilar-Curry) will protect public health while supporting California's legal cannabis market – creating family-sustaining jobs, generating tax revenue, and operating with transparency and accountability. By taking decisive action now, California can continue to lead the nation in responsible cannabis policy.”

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