Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that nearly all licensed businesses across California are complying with emergency state regulations aimed at removing intoxicating hemp products from the market.
Newsom proposed the restrictions last September, citing an urgent need to protect children.
According to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 99.7% of business licenses inspected in 2025 have complied with rules prohibiting the sale of industrial hemp food, beverages and dietary supplements containing THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids.
Since last September, ABC agents have visited 11,445 licensed establishments, seizing 7,151 illegal products from 148 locations.
“We are doing our part to ensure intoxicating hemp products are out of the reach of vulnerable groups like children. We must always put the safety of Californians first,” Newsom said in a statement.
With the restrictions in place, retailers are now prohibited from selling products made with hemp THC, an intoxicating cannabis compound, and various types of medicinal products made with CBD, a nonintoxicating compound, according to SFGate.
The new regulations now require consumers to be 21 years old or older to purchase hemp products and additional cannabinoids intended for human consumption and limit the serving size to five.
The governor said the lax rules have made it easier for kids to access intoxicating hemp-based products, which are typically sold at liquor outlets, gas stations and smoke shops, according to the Los Angeles Times.
However, critics told SFGate that “the Newsom administration was abusing the emergency rulemaking process to pass the hemp THC ban and that banning hemp THC would have disastrous effects on medical patients who rely on hemp to treat a wide range of health conditions.
The restrictions, initially slated to expire on March 25, were extended that same month. According to the state Public Health Department, they are now expected to expire on Sept. 25.
