A bill regulating hemp products, licensing, and restricting their purchase to customers 21 and older awaits its fate on Gov. Brian Kemp's desk after state lawmakers successfully passed it during this year's legislative session.
The bill, related to "The Georgia Hemp Farming Act" and sponsored by Republican Moultrie Sen. Sam Watson, would require testing for all hemp-derived products, including CBD and Delta-8 edibles and drinks, and prohibit sales to minors. The senate sent the bill to the governor on April 4, who has until May 7 to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without taking action.
"Once the General Assembly adjourns, the Governor has 40 days to act on legislation. During that time, all bills that reached final passage undergo a thorough review process," the governor's spokesperson Garrison Douglas said in a statement.
Watson says the bill is a step forward in consumer protection, treating hemp products the same as any other food product in the state. "We regulate tobacco, we regulate alcohol, we regulate food, yet we've got a ton of these products out there now that we're not regulating as a state to protect the people of our state," he said. The new age restrictions will help protect children from accidentally consuming cannabis products, Watson said.
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