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Cannabis Business Times: California Passes AB 8 to Ban Intoxicating Hemp Products Outside Cannabis Market
- Laura Braden
- 7 days ago
- 1 min read
EXCERPT:
Sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, the 82-page legislation also seeks to expand the authority for state and local enforcement agencies to inspect, seize and destroy unlawful products.
In addition, it would integrate products containing concentrated cannabinoids derived from hemp, other than CBD isolate, into the state’s licensed and regulated cannabis supply chain. Aside from a pure CBD isolate, all other products would fall under the definition of a cannabis product.
Now being prepared for the governor, these provisions in the bill include an effective date of Jan. 1, 2028. Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, presented the legislation for a third reading on Sept. 12 in the upper chamber.
“AB 8 seeks to protect public health by eliminating access to intoxicating hemp products outside of authorized dispensaries,” she said. “[The bill] will give state agencies and local governments the tools they need to protect our kids from synthetic products.”
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In a bill analysis, lawmakers referenced a February 2025 white paper titled The Great Hemp Hoax, which was co-authored by Tiffany Devitt, a board member for the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA) and the director of regulatory affairs for licensed retailer March and Ash. The white paper included an analysis of 104 products marketed as hemp from 68 brands, finding that 95% contained chemically synthesized cannabinoids.
Two California retailers, March and Ash and Embarc, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135 sponsored the report, with testing provided by Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs.
