Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed emergency restrictions, which, among other things, prohibit any “detectable” THC from being present in hemp products, were approved by the state’s Office of Administrative Law on Monday, state officials confirmed to KTLA.
With the restrictions in place, retailers are now prohibited from selling products made with hemp THC, an intoxicating cannabis compound, and various types of medicinal products made with CBD, a nonintoxicating compound, according to SFGate.
The new regulations now require consumers to be 21 years old or older to purchase hemp products and additional cannabinoids intended for human consumption and limit the serving size to five.
Newsom proposed the restrictions earlier this month, citing an urgent need to protect children.
“We will not sit on our hands as drug peddlers target our children with dangerous and unregulated hemp products containing THC at our retail stores. We’re taking action to close loopholes and increase enforcement to prevent children from accessing these dangerous hemp and cannabis products,” Newsom said in a statement.
Newsom said the lax rules have made it easier for kids to access intoxicating hemp-based products, which are typically sold at liquor outlets, gas stations and smoke shops, according to the Los Angeles Times.
However, critics told SFGate that “the Newsom administration was abusing the emergency rulemaking process to pass the hemp THC ban and that banning hemp THC would have disastrous effects on medical patients who rely on hemp to treat a wide range of health conditions.”
According to the publication, the new regulations will be effective until March 25, 2025.
A bill attempted to further regulate the hemp industry failed in the state Legislature, according to the Los Angeles Times.