Columbus, Ohio – In a decisive move to protect Ohio’s youth from unregulated and potentially dangerous consumables, Governor Mike DeWine has declared an Adulterated Consumer Product Emergency targeting intoxicating hemp products sold across the state. The emergency executive order, signed on October 9, mandates that all retailers must remove such products from their shelves by Tuesday, October 14, 2025, or face daily penalties.
“Intoxicating hemp products are known to have significant impacts on young, developing brains, yet these products are legally marketed to kids, sold to kids, and ingested by kids in Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. “When voters chose to legalize marijuana, they voted for a highly regulated market that only allows sales at licensed dispensaries to those 21 and older. Intoxicating hemp completely bypasses these laws, and we must do more to keep these products away from kids.”
Unregulated Sales Raise Alarms Among Health Experts
The order comes amid growing concerns about products that mimic candy or snacks—like gummies, cookies, and other edibles—but contain intoxicating substances such as delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC, chemically engineered from legal hemp. These substances can produce highs similar to marijuana but are not regulated, meaning they can legally be sold to minors without oversight.
Ohio’s Poison Control has recorded a disturbing rise in cases. Exposures to delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC among individuals 19 and younger more than doubled, jumping from 419 cases in 2021 to 994 in 2024. The most alarming increase was seen in children ages 5 and under, with cases nearly tripling from 202 in 2021 to 555 in 2024. Most of these incidents required emergency care, and about two-thirds of children up to age 12 were hospitalized due to the severity of the effects.
Retailers Face Fines if Products Are Not Removed
Retailers across Ohio have until October 14 to comply with the emergency order. After that date, local and state enforcement agencies, including the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), will be authorized to seize any remaining products on shelves. Shops that continue to sell intoxicating hemp could face fines of $500 per day per location.
This temporary order is valid for 90 days, though the Ohio General Assembly can extend it. Governor DeWine’s administration is also moving quickly to change how hemp is defined in state regulations. The ODA has been directed to update administrative rules to officially exclude intoxicating products from the legal definition of hemp in Ohio. While these rule changes are typically subject to a lengthy process, the executive order allows them to take effect immediately for 120 days, ensuring swift enforcement.
Legal Hemp and Medical Marijuana Remain Unaffected
The emergency declaration does not impact legal, non-intoxicating hemp products approved by the Ohio General Assembly in 2019. Likewise, it has no effect on the regulated marijuana market, which restricts sales to adults through licensed dispensaries.
Governor DeWine’s action reflects growing concern over the unchecked availability of psychoactive hemp products marketed toward children. His office emphasized that the intent behind marijuana legalization was to create a controlled, adult-only market—something these unregulated hemp products entirely sidestep.
The full executive order is available at governor.ohio.gov.
