COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced on Wednesday that he will be taking action against intoxicating hemp products being sold in Ohio.

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, DeWine provided three examples of edible hemp products sold in stores in packaging similar to that of popular children's candies like Nerds Gummy Clusters, Sour Patch Kids and Fruit Gushers.

DeWine says unlike adult-use cannabis products, which were legalized under Ohio Issue 2 in 2023, there are no regulations on the packaging and sale of these products.

This means stores do not need to have a license to sell these products, nor do they have to verify the ages of customers purchasing them. Additionally, manufacturers can sell them in packaging enticing to children and similar to that of real snack products consumed by children.

DeWine said these intoxicating hemp products contain 100 mg of THC per piece, which equates to five adult servings of legal adult-use cannabis products in Ohio.

"I think the danger to our children is clear, and I'm taking action today to protect Ohio's children. These children are vulnerable to these potent knockoff products that are on sale today across the state of Ohio," DeWine said.

DeWine announced that he signed an executive order that changes the definition of hemp and hemp products in Ohio's administrative code. 

Effective Tuesday, October 14, the Ohio Department of Agriculture will be given the authority to exclude intoxicating hemp from the definition of legal hemp in Ohio.

This would make the intoxicating hemp products listed above illegal under Ohio law.

"No one ever, when the argument was made to legalize hemp, was anticipating intoxicating hemp. That is not what the legislature intended, that is not what Congress intended, that is not what was told to the public," DeWine said.

If stores in Ohio continue to sell these products after October 14, local and state authorities will have the power to seize these products, and stores could face fines of $500 for each day the products continue to be sold.

After 90 days, the Ohio General Assembly will have the power to let this order expire or extend it further.