Ban on intoxicating hemp by DeWine goes up in smoke

Gov. Mike DeWine’s ban on the sale of intoxicating hemp items ended before it could even take effect.

DeWine, a Republican who has long opposed the sale of the products, announced Oct. 8 that he was declaring an “adulterated consumer product emergency,” effective Tuesday because the items present “a threat to public health and safety.”

The products contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and aren’t regulated like the state’s adult recreational and medical marijuana industry.

DeWine has long argued that several of the products are geared toward children as they are in packets of gummies that look like candy that kids eat, such as Gushers, Nerds and Sour Patch Kids, and can easily be confused for actual candy. That, DeWine said, poses a health risk to children.

The governor has urged his fell