With California's new hemp regulations in effect, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) began enforcement efforts by visiting licensed locations across the state to confirm establishments are in compliance with new state regulations and that illegal hemp products are off shelves.
The regulations, which were published by the California Department of Public Health on September 24, prohibit the marketing, offering for sale, or sale of industrial hemp products intended for human use (including food, beverages, and dietary supplements) that contain a detectable level of total THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids.
Over the past weekend, ABC agents visited 383 ABC-licensed locations across California to ensure prohibited items were not available for sale. Violations discovered by agents were found at businesses in Rocklin, Azusa, Temecula, Murrieta, La Mesa, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, Clayton, Concord, Hanford, and Corte Madera. Agents seized over 700 illegal products from several licensees, removing them from shelves and preventing them from being sold.
ABC informed licensees that they may not carry, market, or sell products that do not comply with the regulations. Businesses that fail to follow the law could face legal or administrative discipline, including loss of license.
The enforcement efforts reflect ABC's education-first approach. Since CDPH posted the emergency regulations on September 6, ABC has proactively reached out to inform licensees of the change. In addition to the industry advisory, this included notifying licensees on ABC's listserv about the regulations via email and fielding calls from licensees across the state. On October 3, ABC published the approved regulations and sent a follow-up e-mail to licensees informing them about the regulations in effect.
"ABC's enforcement sweep demonstrated overwhelming compliance among licensees statewide," ABC Director Joseph McCullough said. "Agents visited nearly 400 licensed establishments across California and 97 percent were in compliance with the new regulations. While these numbers are promising, 100 percent compliance is our goal."
ABC will continue to visit licensed locations throughout the state to enforce the new regulations and ensure illegal products are not being sold. Licensees should become familiar with the new regulations and how to be in compliance. More information is available here. Anyone interested in filing a complaint concerning illegal hemp products at an ABC-licensed location can visit ABC's website.