Richmond, Virginia – The state of Virginia has enacted a new law intended to prevent children from accessing THC-infused gummies.
The legislative body has pointed out that Delta-8 products were frequently distributed in child-appealing packaging. However, those operating within the hemp industry argue that the regulatory response is excessive.
Reed Anderson, a local entrepreneur, explains the impact of this legislation: “We’re one of hundreds that’s made the hard decision to just shut it down.”
Anderson is closing his Goochland hemp enterprise, Kame Naturals, following the introduction of stringent rules on THC commodities like Delta-8. This new law restricts all hemp products to a maximum of two milligrams of THC per package, a quantity significantly less than most products found in smoke and vape shops. In addition, it necessitates a 25-to-1 CBD to THC ratio in all hemp products.
According to Anderson, the “25-to-1 ratio doesn’t do what we do justice right. We started our business as a solventless extraction company, and that over time kind of had to go to the wayside because of the different regulations coming through.”
Violations of these regulations could incur penalties up to $10,000.
In Anderson’s view, the lawmakers were overly focused on THC’s intoxicating properties and largely overlooked the potential health benefits it could offer. He argues that removing THC from a product diminishes much of the inherent value of CBD products.
However, Governor Glenn Youngkin and other supporters of the legislation claim that it was necessary to halt the sale of Delta-8 items, as a significant number of children were falling ill due to them. This viewpoint was endorsed by the Virginia Hospital Industry, leading to their support of the new law.
Governor Youngkin’s office issued a statement that said, in part: “SB 903 and HB 2294 took critical steps to strengthen consumer safety and regulations around edible and inhaled hemp-derived products as well as delta-8 THC products…the substitute also requires retailers to register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to sell any edible or inhaled hemp-derived product.”
Despite exiting the hemp industry, Anderson intends to champion for change in this area, planning to engage with politicians frequently in an effort to push for legislative reform.
