New federal law could torpedo Ohio’s effort to regulate hemp like marijuana

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new federal law on intoxicating hemp products could mean Ohio won’t regulate it through dispensaries as it does marijuana.

A provision in the budget bill that ended the longest shutdown of the federal in history also closed a loophole that allowed sale of intoxicating hemp products without regulation.

Ohio lawmakers, meeting in a conference committee, are sorting out how the state should regulate hemp. Legislation passed by the Ohio House called for dispensaries similar to those used to regulate the sale of marijuana.

But House Speaker Matt Huffman signaled the new federal law could mean Ohio won’t go that route, while he acknowledged some regulation is necessary.

The federal action will effectively ban unregulated sales of intoxicating hemp products in one year, a