Virginia officials last year issued fines to more than 300 hemp product retailers collectively totaling nearly $10.8 million for the sale of restricted products, Axios reports.
The companies were fined for selling intoxicating, delta-8 THC products that are now banned under a 2023 law that caps THC levels in consumable hemp products at 2 milligrams, requires hemp product retailers to register with the state, and requires edible hemp products to be lab-tested and clearly labeled. Another provision of the bill requires topical products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids to include bittering products to dissuade people from consuming them to get high.
Per data from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ hemp enforcement team, 346 out of 424 hemp product retailers (82%) inspected by officials were violating the new state law, with a collective total of 17,715 violations. Officials also said they assessed $10,772,250 in civil penalties and have so far collected $433,262 in penalties.
THC-rich cannabis products have been legal to consume and possess in Virginia since 2021 but there is not a regulated market for adults looking to purchase safe, intoxicating cannabis products. Lawmakers passed a proposal this year that would have established a legal and regulated adult-use cannabis marketplace but Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the proposal in March.
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