Overview

• The order takes effect Oct. 14, requiring retailers to remove intoxicating hemp from display and halt sales, with products subject to seizure and fines of $500 per day for violations.
• The Ohio Department of Agriculture will temporarily exclude intoxicating hemp from the state’s legal hemp definition, enabling enforcement during the emergency period.
• Targeted items include hemp-derived THC products such as delta-8 edibles and drinks sold outside licensed dispensaries, while non-intoxicating hemp and Ohio’s regulated marijuana program remain unaffected.
• Lawmakers can end the health order after 30 days under a 2021 law, and at least one House Republican plans to seek a termination vote as leadership signals action on broader regulation.
• Industry groups and retailers warn of business losses and are weighing legal challenges, as state officials cite rising pediatric exposures and child-appealing packaging as public-health risks.