Hemp Companies Sue Ohio Governor Over Hemp THC Ban

Three companies in Ohio have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Mike DeWine (R) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture after the governor issued an executive order to ban the sale of hemp-derived THC products in the state.

The companies, Fumee Smoke and Vape, Invicta Nutraceuticals, and Titan Logistics Group, all sell vapor products — some containing hemp-derived THC — and say that the ban will harm their businesses and force them to close, WCMH reports.

The governor’s ban will take effect on Tuesday, October 14, and will remain in effect for 90 days. The governor said the temporary ban will give lawmakers time to legislate proper rules for intoxicating hemp products, which were legalized under the federal 2018 Farm Bill and have proliferated in the years since.

The lawsuit claims the ban is “unlawful” and states there is “no evidence hemp products pose an imminent threat to public health.”

Meanwhile, Ohio lawmakers are considering a proposal to prohibit the sale of hemp THC products to underage individuals. The bill would also ban hemp packaging from appealing to children, and would require lab testing for all hemp products sold in the state.

Ohio voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in 2023, and licensed retailers opened for business in August 2024.