Virginia’s hemp farmers and CBD shops fear new proposed limits in the General Assembly will decimate the industry. Supporters of the bills, which have won bipartisan approval, argue cracking down on intoxicating products is necessary to protect consumers.
Negotiations will continue behind closed doors now that the House and Senate have passed different versions of the legislation. The decisions made in the coming days could impact which products stay and go, though Governor Glenn Youngkin will still have a chance to make amendments.
“This whole law isn’t just getting Delta-8 off the streets. This law has consequences, as written, that is going to wipe out a whole industry,” said Evan Somogyi, owner of Kultivate Wellness in Midlothian.
Somogyi said he stopped selling Delta-8 last year after state lawmakers approved budget language that tightened regulations around hemp-derived products.“If these laws pass, 99% of the products that we sell would not be available anymore,” Somogyi said.
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