Legalization of intoxicating hemp is a bad idea for Ohio

When the Ohio House gutted and hijacked S.B. 56, it was with the intent of legalizing intoxicating hemp products in Ohio. Intoxicating hemp products have been showing up on the shelves in Ohio stores since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill which authorized the farm and industrial use of hemp products. Exploiting a loophole in the federal law, manufacturers of intoxicating hemp products began selling them in Ohio and other states. So as to not be confused, this has nothing to do with the passage of Issue 2 - the legalization of marijuana in 2023.

These products that Governor DeWine highlighted in his press release on banning the products from the shelves in his Executive Order three weeks ago, are being sold in your corner store and small grocers around the State of Ohio. Many people are shocked to learn about the accessibility of these products outside of the 400 marijuana dispensaries. These products are a danger to children. The poison hotline has had a 500% increase since 2023. Shockingly, the bill passed the Ohio House by a large margin. The Ohio Senate, furious with the action of the House, soundly voted it down. It now heads to conference committee. To learn more, here is an interview with Trent Woloveck, who discusses intoxicating hemp and soon will be filing a lawsuit in the State of Ohio.