SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on Oct 11 announced that California’s emergency regulations to protect children and teens from the adverse effects of dangerous intoxicating hemp products will remain in effect after a court blocked an industry attempt to stop enforcement of the regulations.

“We will not sit on our hands while bad actors in the hemp industry target our children with dangerous and intoxicating hemp products containing THC at our retail stores. Industry concerns about the regulations are more about protecting their profit than the public. We are pleased the court saw through their bogus arguments and put the safety of Californians first in its decision,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The decision affirmed that the potential harm to Californians, especially children, outweighs the potential that individual hemp businesses will not be able to adapt to the new regulations. The court also dismissed industry arguments that the regulations would make CBD products for medicinal use unavailable, noting that these items would remain available without THC at retail stores, and with THC at licensed cannabis dispensaries. 

The decision upholds California’s restrictions, which prohibit selling any industrial hemp food, beverage, or dietary product intended for human consumption if there is any detectable THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids per serving.