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Midwest Independent Retailers Association Advocates For Hemp-Derived THC Regulation

Dec 3, 2025 | Feature, Great Lakes Region, Michigan

The Midwest Independent Retailers Association based in Bloomfield Hills urged members to remove hemp consumables from store shelves in and asked the Legislature to regulate the products.

MIRA Vice President of Government Affairs Jerry GRIFFIN said the association looked into the issue and found problems with the labeling, packaging and testing that could end up putting high doses of THC in the hands of teens (See “Cannabis Industry Set To Fight ‘Gas Station Weed’,” 9/5/25). 

“We do think that there needs to be some standards set through the regulatory environment, through testing and labeling that makes it clear what’s in these products,” Griffin said in a press release.

The recent federal spending bill signed in November was set to close the loophole that allowed hemp consumables to be shipped across state lines, but those restrictions wouldn’t go into effect until November 2026.

Regulation of THC-infused drinks and candies was recently brought up in the Senate with SB 599 , SB 600 , SB 601 and SB 602 (See “Psychoactive Hemp Drinks, Candies Would Be Regulated Or Banned Under Bills,” 10/15/25). 

Griffin said the state needs to make it clear through the regulatory process what is going to be done about these products and if they will be sold strictly at licensed cannabis facilities.

“I think what we’re looking at is any product that has a level of THC that has a component that can be intoxicating to anyone, whether they’re minor or not. You have to start looking at whether it is a properly tested product and what’s contained therein, is verified,” he said.

He said he felt supplements fall into a different category and were not subject to regulation under Food and Drug Administration guidelines. He said the federal government has laid the groundwork for vitamins and other supplements, but it was up to the states that allow cannabis to determine regulations on THC.

“If we start seeing an issue creeping up of dangerous products, then sure someone’s going to have to do something about that, but it would appear the issue with those products is: are they helpful or not?”

Griffin added that Ohio has just passed legislation related to hemp-derived THC.

He said, ultimately, MIRA would back whatever solution the state of Michigan came up with.

“Just get these products tested and verified, and then we’ll work out how they’re going to be utilized within a retail establishment,” he said.

Read more at MIRA

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