Study: Adult-Use Cannabis Regulators Outpace Alcohol Agencies on Public Health Goals

OG article by Anthony Martinelli

November 14, 2025

The recent closure of the Farm Bill's "loophole" has ignited jubilation among regulated cannabis stakeholders, effectively targeting the explosive $28.3 billion market for intoxicating hemp-derived THC products. Signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 12, 2025, and set to take effect in November 2026, the ban aims to curb unregulated sales at smoke shops, gas stations, and major retailers like Target and Circle K. Yet, as states grapple with implementation, whispers of defiance are growing louder, particularly in Ohio, where hemp THC beverages gained early legislative nod despite competition with the nascent legal marijuana market launched last year.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, preemptively issued an executive order in October banning hemp-derived THC statewide, mirroring California's approach. However, the order remains entangled in courts, prompting lawmakers to pivot toward state-specific regulations akin to marijuana oversight. "We’re still trying to figure out how to implement what’s going on at the federal level, so I think that maybe pumped the brakes a little bit," remarked Republican State Rep. Tex Fischer. Enforcement looms as the crux: Federal cannabis prohibition persists without dismantling the $32 billion legal industry, raising parallels for hemp. Law professor Jonathan Adler of William & Mary notes, "The federal government doesn’t have the resources... to go after individual retailers, individual buyers, let alone individual users."

Even vocal opponents concede persistence. House Speaker Matt Huffman, a Republican, doubts aggressive crackdowns, quipping, "Now, are we going to go around and start cuffing 17-year-old clerks at gas stations? No, but we’ve got to get this thing in shape." The ban's announcement triggered stock dips for multistate marijuana operators, per the Wall Street Journal, underscoring interconnected markets. As states weigh autonomy against federal pressure, this saga exemplifies cannabis policy's patchwork nature, where local innovation often outpaces D.C. mandates.