While state officials and agencies are working around the clock with local and federal partners to assist Georgians recovering from Hurricane Helen, Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary Tyler Harper, and Col. Billy Hitchens The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which imposes public safety restrictions on hemp products manufactured and sold in Georgia, goes into effect tomorrow, October 1st.
The General Assembly passed the Georgia Hemp Farming Act in March, and most of the bill is scheduled to go into effect on October 1st. The law imposes age restrictions on the possession of consumable hemp products and requires consumable hemp retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to obtain: Licensing and other testing and regulatory requirements to operate in Georgia.
All Georgia residents and visitors, and all Georgia law enforcement officials, are reminded that as of October 1st, it is a crime to sell hemp products for consumption to anyone under the age of 21. Please remember. It is also illegal to purchase or possess hemp for consumption. These new restrictions will be strongly enforced across the state to protect the health and safety of Georgia youth.
“The safety of our residents, especially our children and youth, is our top priority here in Georgia,” Governor Kemp said. “Consumable hemp products are dangerous to minors, and unregulated hemp products are dangerous to all Georgians. Recognizing these risks, we urge consumers to be aware of these new laws. We want you to know that every law enforcement officer in our state will be enforcing this law starting October 1st to protect Georgia's children and communities as this industry grows. I want to thank the General Assembly for passing this legislation that puts in place the necessary guardrails, and I want to thank the Department of Agriculture and all public safety agencies across Georgia for their efforts in enforcing this new law. ”
“Our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture is committed to working with Governor Kemp, the Legislature, and the state to protect Georgia consumers and children by installing much-needed guardrails for consumable hemp products in the state. We are proud to work with other law enforcement agencies within the state,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “The laws regarding sales to persons under 21 and sales of fresh flower products are very simple and will be strictly enforced by our Law Enforcement Division and Hemp Program Division, as well as other state and local law enforcement agencies, beginning October 1st. It will be done.”
“Through traffic enforcement efforts across Georgia, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is committed to enforcing new laws enacted by the General Assembly and following Governor Kemp's strong enforcement of restrictions on consumable hemp products,” said Col. William W. Hitchens. “I have received support,” he said. III, DPS Commissioner. “We take the safety of our residents and visitors seriously and will continue to fulfill our obligations as set forth in the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, including increasing restrictions.”
The new law implements necessary public safety measures as a result of Congress legalizing hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp is a cannabis plant that naturally contains small amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC, as well as other natural cannabinoids that may be used for medical purposes. In recent years, consumable hemp products such as oils, gummies, and beverages have been sold throughout the state with little oversight, no quality control standards, and almost no product labeling requirements.
State law enforcement agencies will review these new restrictions as well as rules proposed by Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper that set comprehensive standards for cannabis production and product testing for all citizens and public safety personnel. I encourage you to do so.
A copy of the Georgia Hemp Farming Law can be found here. A link to the USDA's proposed regulations regarding cannabis can be found here.
The Georgia Hemp Farming Act is administered separately from and does not affect Georgia's medical cannabis program. Information about Georgia's low THC oil registration for patients with applicable medical conditions can be found here.
