Georgia’s cannabis industry is undergoing major changes following the implementation of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act. Signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp in March 2024, the new legislation is cracking down on legal loopholes, prompting significant adjustments for hemp businesses statewide.At Hempire Hut in Savannah, owner Mike Johnson has seen a drop in customers since October, when the law went into effect.”We’ve seen a reduction of customers,” Johnson said. The act prohibited certain products that exceed the legal THC limit of 0.3% for hemp. Johnson predicted the new law would push people to take their business online, where there would be fewer restrictions. The law places new restrictions on hemp products like age and license requirements. The new law also includes a zero-tolerance policy, prohibiting the sale or possession of hemp products by anyone under the age of 21.The Georgia Department of Agriculture, which oversees the new regulations, explained that stricter rules were necessary to address violations.“What we were finding was products whose THC level was in the 20 to 30% range, which is well above the 0.3%,” said Bruce Standford, deputy director of law enforcement and emergency management for the Department of Agriculture. The department is now responsible for licensing, inspecting, and ensuring compliance with the law. Officials emphasized their goal of protecting consumers while regulating the growing hemp market.Although Johnson supports the legislation’s intent, he believes there is a need for clearer guidelines.”As far as anything being in stone as to who you can work with, who you can’t, there’s not anything,” Johnson said. Despite the challenges, Johnson remains optimistic about the potential to shift public perception.”If they could change the stigma from high to healing, that would be awesome,” Johnson said.
Georgia’s cannabis industry is undergoing major changes following the implementation of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act. Signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp in March 2024, the new legislation is cracking down on legal loopholes, prompting significant adjustments for hemp businesses statewide.
At Hempire Hut in Savannah, owner Mike Johnson has seen a drop in customers since October, when the law went into effect.
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“We’ve seen a reduction of customers,” Johnson said.
The act prohibited certain products that exceed the legal THC limit of 0.3% for hemp.
Johnson predicted the new law would push people to take their business online, where there would be fewer restrictions.
The law places new restrictions on hemp products like age and license requirements. The new law also includes a zero-tolerance policy, prohibiting the sale or possession of hemp products by anyone under the age of 21.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture, which oversees the new regulations, explained that stricter rules were necessary to address violations.
“What we were finding was products whose THC level was in the 20 to 30% range, which is well above the 0.3%,” said Bruce Standford, deputy director of law enforcement and emergency management for the Department of Agriculture.
The department is now responsible for licensing, inspecting, and ensuring compliance with the law. Officials emphasized their goal of protecting consumers while regulating the growing hemp market.
Although Johnson supports the legislation’s intent, he believes there is a need for clearer guidelines.
“As far as anything being in stone as to who you can work with, who you can’t, there’s not anything,” Johnson said.
Despite the challenges, Johnson remains optimistic about the potential to shift public perception.
“If they could change the stigma from high to healing, that would be awesome,” Johnson said.
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