Sacramento County could soon ban hemp products with trace of THC
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento County is considering banning hemp. In 2021, California began allowing the sale of intoxicating hemp in food and beverages, but now youth advocates say these products are being abused by teens and making them sick.
Unlike cannabis, which can only be legally sold in California by licensed dispensaries, hemp products can be sold at any store.
"You can find these intoxicating THC products at vape shops, at smoke shops," said Faith Galati, executive director of Breakthrough Sacramento. "Some of the gas stations when you're checking, out you'll see these pouches up there."
Sacramento County said there's now a growing number of people going to the emergency room and being hospitalized due to ingesting these products.
Between May and August of this year, there were eight reports of intoxicating hemp exposures.
"They're going to get nauseous. They're going to start to hallucinate. They're going to have trouble breathing," Galati said.
State law limits THC levels to just three-tenths of a percent of the weight, but companies have found a loophole.
"Manufacturers figured out how to concentrate high amounts of THC into a very small weight," Galati said.
They are only supposed to be sold to people 21 and over, but youth advocates say many stores don't check IDs and kids are purchasing the products.
"It seems like they're not going to dealers for cannabis anymore," said Alisa Padon of the Public Health Institute. "They're going to their corner store and they're buying hemp derived products and getting high on those."
Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued emergency regulations to protect youth from purchasing hemp products.
Next week, Sacramento County leaders will consider a total ban on the sale of any hemp products with a trace of THC.
Sacramento County shops caught violating the proposed ban could face administrative penalties and have their business license suspended or revoked.