A new legislation in Virginia has been introduced with the aim of preventing children from accessing THC gummies.

According to lawmakers, there have been instances where Delta-8 products were sold in packaging that appealed to children. However, individuals within the hemp industry argue that this new crackdown is excessive.

Reed Anderson, the owner of Kame Naturals, a hemp business located in Goochland, has made the difficult decision to shut down his operations due to the impact of the state law targeting THC products like Delta-8.

The law now imposes a restriction of two milligrams of THC per package on all hemp products. This limit is significantly lower than what is commonly found in many smoke and vape shops. Additionally, hemp products must maintain a minimum CBD-to-THC ratio of 25-to-1.

Anderson expresses his concerns about the 25-to-1 ratio, stating that it fails to do justice to the work they have been doing. He explains that their business initially focused on solventless extraction, but they had to alter their operations due to evolving regulations.

Violation of these regulations can result in fines of up to $10,000.

Anderson believes that the law is overly burdensome and claims that lawmakers focused too much on the intoxicating effects of THC while neglecting its potential health benefits.

On the other hand, Governor Glenn Youngkin and supporters of the law argue that action was necessary to halt the sale of Delta-8 products, as too many children were falling ill. The Virginia Hospital Industry has endorsed the new legislation.

A statement from Governor Youngkin’s office highlights the following:

“SB 903 and HB 2294 were crucial steps taken to enhance consumer safety and regulate the use of edible, inhaled, and delta-8 THC hemp-derived products. These amendments were specifically aimed at addressing dangerous THC intoxicants, including synthetic THC products. Along with the ban on synthetic THC, the legislation includes restrictions on the total percentage of THC permitted in hemp products, packaging and labeling requirements, testing protocols, and limits on THC per package. The new law also mandates that retailers register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to sell any hemp-derived product for inhalation or ingestion. Furthermore, the General Assembly established the registration requirement and associated fees to cover operational costs and establish a comprehensive database of all regulated hemp product retail stores.”

Although Anderson has exited the hemp business, he intends to advocate for reform and engage with politicians regularly to seek changes in these laws.