Ohio Hemp Industry Speaks

We are writing in response to the articles published on Cleveland.com regarding Ohio Governor DeWine’s stance on federally-lawful delta-8 THC derived from hemp. 

As a responsible manufacturer, lawyer, and representative of thousands of legitimate retailers in the adult-use hemp industry, it is critical that we share the facts with the people. 

Fact #1:  Ever since the federal 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived products like delta-8 THC, thousands of small and family-owned businesses have deeply invested in this emerging market, dedicating their lives to building companies and selling responsibly-made products to adults only.

Fact #2:  The new category of hemp has been a lifeline to thousands of small brick-and-mortar retailers, who have struggled since COVID-19 lockdowns and Big Ecomm’s takeover of market share.

Fact #3:  The 2018 Farm Bill left regulation of hemp products to the states.

Fact #4:  Many Midwestern and Southern states (e.g., FL, KY, TN, WV, AL, and more) embraced the opportunity to open up the cannabis market in their own way.  They enacted common-sense safety regulations for hemp products, such as age restrictions, product testing standards, and truth-in-labeling requirements, all while keeping the products on an open market for all responsible actors.

Fact #5:  For about five years, Ohio lawmakers have failed to take any similar action to regulate hemp-derived products, despite the hemp industry’s loud cry for regulation.

Fact #6:  Due to the lack of regulation, some irresponsible people are marketing and selling hemp-derived products to minors without any consequence.

Fact #7:  Most retailers take it upon themselves to age-restrict hemp-derived products – just like they do with their tobacco and alcohol. 

Fact #8:  Many manufacturers, like Cloud 8®, produce responsibly – accurately labeling products, frequently lab testing for unwanted contaminants, and marketing to adults only.  These manufacturers are in favor of regulation that forces all manufacturers to produce responsibly, leveling the playing field and ridding the market of sketchy products like those shown by Governor DeWine in the articles.

Fact #9:  As the original article explained, many people prefer adult-use hemp over marijuana because of its milder effects.  In business, this means that adult-use hemp is an obvious threat to the marijuana dispensaries’ share of the overall cannabis market.

Fact #10:  Most major dispensary chains are owned by companies from the Western U.S., Canada, and/or the country’s largest metropolitan areas – not Ohio, the Midwest, or Southern states.

Fact #11:  Many Ohio businesses – from “mom-and-pop” corner stores to corporate grocery/convenience chains – stand to benefit from selling regulated hemp products on an open market, and these retailers will provide greater accessibility to consumers, too.

Fact #12:   The future of who gets to participate in the Ohio cannabis market is being decided right now. 

Now that you have the facts, here’s the big question that remains:

Will Ohio lawmakers continue to open up cannabis in a way that benefits Ohio businesses and consumers – starting with common-sense hemp regulation?

Or will they succumb to fearmongering and restrict hemp such that only out-of-state dispensaries and the black-market benefit?