A judge in Franklin County, Ohio, extended his restraining order that pauses Gov. Mike DeWine’s ban on sales of “intoxicating” hemp, like edibles and drinks with delta-8 THC or similar ingredients.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carl Aveni rescheduled the next hearing in the case for Dec. 2, according to court documents. So stock up while you can.
In a lawsuit filed earlier in October, hemp retailers and manufacturers argued DeWine acted outside his authority as governor by unilaterally banning sales for 90 days of what the state calls intoxicating hemp.
“It is statutory law that products containing ‘hemp’ and ‘hemp products’ are not adulterated,” the lawsuit reads. “Yet, (Gov.) DeWine’s basis for invoking emergency is that these products are adulterated.”
Aveni’s extension came just one day after the Ohio House advanced a bill revising cannabis laws and more strictly regulating other THC, including by establishing a regulatory structure for intoxicating hemp. Under the latest version of Senate Bill 56, retailers who want to sell it would need licensure to do so, although SB 56 carves out CBD and THC drinks.
The Senate still has to sign off on the changes, and is unlikely to okay them outright, Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said Wednesday.
“It’s a brand new regulatory scheme,” McColley said. “I’m sure there are going to be members who are going to have some issues.”
Read more at State News
