It is concerning to see that the Governor and the members of the Legislature are anti-business in this regard, when other states can figure out this issue.
By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal
Ohioans that sell hemp-based intoxicants are anxious about the impact of the 90-day prohibition, which will take effect this Tuesday.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican governor of Ohio, announced recently a 90 day executive order banning the sale intoxicating products made from hemp that will begin on October 14.
Items containing THC sold in places other than marijuana dispensaries include gas stations and CBD shops.
Todd Hicks’ new CBD shop opened in Columbus just days before DeWine issued the ban.
“It was heartbreaking,” said he. It’s heartbreaking, he said. “I don’t even know where to start.”
Hicks stated that he would likely be forced to shut down his new store and fire his three workers.
“I’m not able to afford them,” said he. Well, they can do nothing, right? They cannot sell the product. The product won’t be sold if no one answers the door. “I don’t really need them.”
Hicks believes that it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children do not get hold of hemp-based products which are intoxicating.
He said, “They are digging out their parent’s purse or something similar.” It’s not about sales.
Mark Fashian of Midwest Analytical Solutions, a hemp wholesaler in Delaware, Ohio said that the ban would put him out-of-business. Mark Fashian works for more than 500 Ohio stores that sell hemp-based products.
“We usually sell to gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops and drive-throughs. Each of these places has a system for carding people,” said Fashian. There is carding going on everywhere.
The shops are concerned about the impact of this ban, he said.
“They just worry,” Fashian stated. They don’t even know where to begin. The products are not being used properly.
Jim Higdon said that the hemp intoxication ban had caused confusion. He founded Cornbread Hemp Kentucky and sells his products to more than 30 Ohio retail outlets.
“Our retailers and distributors are very unhappy,” said he. “It’s really frustrating to watch the Republican Party be an anti-business party… To see the governor and members of the legislature be anti-business on this front is very concerning when other states have been able to figure this out.”
Kim Bryant is a Salesperson for Your CBD Store Marion. She said their average client age was 50.
She said, “They want to eat gummies as a pain reliever and for sleeping.” “People want that instead of opioids or prescription drugs… The older people, they have no desire to go to a medical marijuana or recreational marijuana facility.”
Bryant stated that the store checks IDs for every purchase.
She added, “I never would sell anything ever to a child.” “I just feel like it’s unfair to the people that are doing all the right things when there’s one bad apple… This is a store that actually helps people.”
The ban also includes THC-infused drinks, such as those Collin Castore began selling in his central Ohio breweries back in March. Five milligrams are contained in the beverages.
The equivalent to a five-milligram beverage would be a joint. This isn’t going to make anyone go on a 24 hour head trip or rock their world. Castore said that it’s only a small change in mood. He is co-founder and owner of Seventh Son Brewery Antiques on High Getaway Brewing.
He said that these beverages are free of alcohol and have been “tested thoroughly”.
Castore stated, “We would like this to be controlled.” Let’s continue to use low-dose THC drinks. We should regulate and treat the beverage the same way we do beer. This will generate tax revenues for everyone and create jobs.
Castore said their target demographic with THC-infused beverages is 35 to 55 year old women who want to take a break from alcohol—”not 10-year-old children.”
I’ve seen how these beverages are great for those who want to avoid alcohol but still enjoy a relaxing drink with their friends.
Castore explained that the labeling on the cans states the drink is only available to people over 21 years old. The purchase of the beverage requires a card, as with alcohol.
Castore stated that the THC-infused drinks make up between 10-15% of wholesale sales and approximately 5-5 percent in retail.
Although it is still too early to give a concrete number on the revenue that will be lost as a result of this ban, Mr. Ayers said it would not be good for businesses.
Castore expressed frustration. “We are going to go from an year in which we may have barely broken even, to another year when we will probably lose money.
Craft beer has had to deal with tariffs this year on steel, aluminum and malted barley.
He said, “It felt like we had won, something that worked really well, but it was just yanked from underneath us.”
Higdon says that many people use THC-infused alcohol as an alternative.
He said that “people are trying to reduce alcohol consumption, or they have stopped drinking alcohol altogether and found drink products as what they were looking for. Taking these products from them is especially frustrating since they will increase their alcohol intake.”
Intoxicating hemp products is regulated in at least 32 States.
The original publication of this story is Ohio Capital Journal.