Circleville – As hemp shops continue to emerge across Circleville, proposed legislation in the Ohio Senate could dramatically alter how these businesses operate.
Last week a new Cabbabis shop opened in Circleville called the Candy Collective a smoke shop, located at 475 East Main Street making four locations in Circleville where hemp products can be purchased.
A new bill, introduced by Republican state senators Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) and Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro), aims to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp products, allowing them to be sold only in licensed adult-use dispensaries.
Senate Bill 86, if passed, would impose a 15% tax on intoxicating hemp products sold at dispensaries and prohibit their sale to individuals under 21. The bill would also regulate the packaging, labeling, and advertising of such products, ensuring they meet testing standards before hitting dispensary shelves.
“Currently, intoxicating hemp products are untested, unregulated psychoactive products that can be just as intoxicating, if not more intoxicating than marijuana,” Wilkin said in his testimony before the Senate General Government Committee.
Under federal law, hemp is legal to cultivate as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC. However, Ohio is among 20 states without clear regulations on intoxicating hemp products, according to a study from the Ohio State University Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. While 15 states have banned these products outright, others, including Michigan, regulate them similarly to cannabis.
Huffman expressed concerns that, due to the current lack of oversight, some hemp retailers have marketed their products as marijuana and their businesses as dispensaries, creating confusion among consumers and law enforcement. The proposed legislation would prevent non-dispensary retailers from using marijuana-related terminology or branding.
The bill also includes provisions for drinkable cannabinoid products, allowing their sale in dispensaries, bars, restaurants, craft breweries, and carryout stores, with a $3.50 per gallon excise tax similar to alcohol taxation.
Gov. Mike DeWine has repeatedly called for state lawmakers to regulate or ban delta-8 THC products, citing safety concerns. Wilkin acknowledged DeWine’s efforts, stating, “The administration has been a consistent voice in warning of the dangers of this unregulated, untested, and dangerous market, and we’re thankful for their efforts once again on this issue.”
While previous attempts to regulate intoxicating hemp products have stalled in the legislature, this latest proposal aims to strike a balance between consumer safety and industry concerns. The debate over hemp regulations is expected to continue as lawmakers, business owners, and public health officials weigh the potential impact of S.B. 86.
