New regulations on Georgia’s hemp industry go into effect Oct. 1 that ban the sale of products like CBD to anyone under 21. Other key provisions include stricter licensing requirements, enhanced testing standards and clearer product labeling mandates.
Senate Bill 494, the “Georgia Hemp Farming Act,” was passed this year by the Georgia General Assembly on the last day of the legislative session. Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law on April 30. The governor said at the time the bill was needed to “protect children from misleading and dangerous marketing.”
The new law essentially eliminates the 2019 Georgia Hemp Farming Act that legalized many cannabis and cannabis extracts as “hemp” but only if they had less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. The hemp industry entered a boom era with retailers now able to sell CBD, delta-8, hemp-infused chocolate and even hemp flower.
In less than three weeks, though, most of these items will be prohibited. Products still legal after Oct. 1 include gummies and beverages, but with a cap on delta-9 THC.
The new law means Joe Salome, co-founder of The Georgia Hemp Company, must remove most of the products on the shelves of his six stores.
“By taking away these products, there’s certainly going to be a void in the world, not only for the businesses, but for the consumer,” he said. “And there’s going to be a trickle down effect from that, whether that’s black market for consumers, and local businesses maybe not following the regulations and not shutting their doors.”
Salome acknowledged the new law would result in him eventually closing some of his stores and putting people out of jobs. He also knows smaller stores and hemp farmers will suffer due to increased operational costs to meet the stricter regulations.
Salome also said his thousands of clients will also suffer by having less access to products they use for anxiety, chronic pain and relaxation.
But he said he is still glad there are regulations in place to weed out “bad actors” — retailers like gas stations or head shops that sold products without the consumer really knowing what they were buying and ingesting.
“I think the future is bright for cannabis,” he said. “We’re about to have regulated access for hemp. Hemp is making this normalized. It’ll be available in more locations.”
There is plenty of outspoken opposition to the new law. The Georgia Medical Cannabis Society said the new law creates confusing obstacles for the hemp industry.
“At its core, SB 494 presents a labyrinth of compliance hurdles that threaten to ensnare the unassuming farmer, processor, retailer, and consumer alike,” the news statement said.
“From fields of uncertainty for our farmers, ensnared by increased compliance costs and regulatory burdens, to processors caught in the crossfire of heightened testing and licensing expenses, the bill casts a long shadow of operational and financial strain.”
