MJBizDaily: California issues emergency regulations to ban intoxicating hemp products

SOURCE: MJBizDaily.com

EXCERPT:

According to the CDPH, the regulations come in response to increasing “health incidents related to intoxicating hemp products” and include:

• Establishing a minimum age of 21 to purchase hemp products.

• Allowing no detectable levels of THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids per serving of hemp-derived food, beverage or dietary products intended for human consumption.

• Limiting the number of servings of hemp products to five per package.

Speaking at a news conference announcing the emergency action, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the CDPH encouraged the state to insist on undetectable levels of more than 30 cannabinoids.

“We need to look more deeply … at everything that today we know can be toxic to Californians – in particular, young people,” Ghaly said.

According to the state, the emergency regulations “will take effect immediately upon approval by the Office of Administrative Law.”

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Industry executive and longtime advocate Dustin Moore said regulations are needed to rein in the largely unchecked hemp marketplace.

“This action reaffirms the importance of a regulated, reliable supply chain that delivers on promises to consumers and communities,” the co-founder of Northern California-based marijuana retailer and cannabis events operator Embarc told MJBizDaily via email.

“The proliferation of the unlicensed, intoxicating hemp market severely undermines both the licensed supply chain and consumer confidence, while preying on those most vulnerable populations in our society.”

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Michael Bronstein, president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, said he believes Newsom’s announcement reflects bipartisan governors’ increasing frustration with inaction at the federal level.

“It is going to really turn heads in Washington because we have a number of states that are grappling with this issue,” Bronstein told MJBizDaily.

“Not only are (these products) outside of state regulation, they’re outside of federal regulation, and it’s caused a lot of confusion,” he said.