Assembly member Agar Curry proposes strict regulations on hemp and synthetic THC sales

The California State Senate's Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee convened recently to discuss significant legislative updates regarding the hemp industry, particularly focusing on Assembly Bill 8. Assemblymember Agar Curry presented the bill, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations in response to the growing market of intoxicating hemp products.

Curry highlighted that the 2018 farm bill left the hemp industry largely unregulated, leading to the emergence of products that could pose risks to public health, especially for minors. Her previous legislation, Assembly Bill 45, established California's strictest hemp laws in 2021, aimed at legalizing non-intoxicating hemp products like CBD. However, the current landscape has revealed a troubling trend: intoxicating hemp products are being sold without age restrictions, which Curry argues should be illegal.

The proposed Assembly Bill 8 seeks to address these issues through three main strategies. First, it aims to enhance enforcement capabilities for state agencies and local governments, providing them with the necessary tools to control the sale and distribution of illegal hemp products. Second, the bill intends to close existing loopholes that allow the sale of intoxicating hemp products, explicitly banning all synthetic THC. Lastly, it proposes to integrate hemp into the legal cannabis supply chain, ensuring that all products containing any level of THC are subject to the same regulations, registration, and taxation as cannabis products. This integration is expected to bolster tax revenue from the cannabis excise tax.

Curry expressed her commitment to collaborating with stakeholders and state agencies to effectively implement these changes, underscoring the importance of protecting public health and maintaining regulatory oversight as the hemp market continues to evolve.

As the committee continues its discussions, the outcomes of this legislation could have significant implications for California's hemp industry and public safety, particularly for the youth in the community.