Californian licensed alcohol establishments no longer sell intoxicating hemp-based products, in compliance with state prohibition policies that were implemented last year. Gavin Newsom made the announcement on May 8.
The Governor issued In September 2024 there will be an emergency regulation requiring all food and beverage products containing industrial hemp that are intended for human use to contain zero THC and no other psychoactive cannabinoids, like delta-8-THC, in the product.
You can also find out more about the following: In order to keep children away from the products,, created a 21-year-old minimum purchase age for nonintoxicating products containing hemp, like those that contain CBD.
California Office of Administrative Law You can also check out our website for more information. the governor’s emergency regulations later that month, they were adopted by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), making hemp-derived THC products illegal.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has been enforcing the new law since September 20, 2024. ABC inspectors have visited 11,445 licensed establishments and seized 7,151 banned products at 148 sites, as reported by the Governor’s office.
However, since the beginning of 2025, the ABC reported that licensed alcohol establishments have been 99.7% compliant with the regulations—16 violations during 5,478 site visits. ABC businesses who fail to adhere to the law may face license cancellations, as well as legal implications.
Frank Robles, ABC’s Chief Deputy Director said: “Our licensees are overwhelmingly in compliance with the regulations.” The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other Thursday. The ABC agent found harmful items on a few occasions during their inspections. They removed these products from the shelves.
The department, despite finding near-universal conformity in its 2025 inspections, will still visit all licensed sites throughout the state, to ensure compliance. Weekly Updates Violations
Newsom says that licensed liquor shops do not allow anyone under the age of 21 into their stores. This helps to ensure that intoxicating cannabis products aren’t in the hands or the youth in California.
Newsom added, “We’re doing our best to keep intoxicating hemp out of reach for vulnerable people like children.” We must put Californians’ safety first.
These regulations do not affect licensed cannabis dispensaries, as they sell intoxicating substances derived from same species of plant. However, licensed cannabis businesses are required to operate within a framework which requires lab testing and certificates of analysis for product labels. This helps ensure the safety of consumers from dangerous contaminants.
According to Newsom’s Office, the manufacturers, who have been “exploiting the law” since the Farm Bill of 2018, which has federally legalized the hemp plant, are now producing and marketing intoxicating hemp-based products, without any safeguards.
Often, these products are sold by unlicensed retail outlets, like gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores. The Governor’s Office did not provide an update regarding the compliance rates of these unlicensed establishments.
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and other agencies and officials will also be expected to act against violators of Newsom’s prohibition policy, in addition to the ABC. These include the CDPH and the California Department of Cannabis Control.