COLUMBUS — Hemp and hemp-derived products are now legal in the state of Ohio after Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 57 Tuesday.
The bill removes hemp from the controlled substances list, and directs the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to draft rules to regular the licensing and processing of hemp, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The bill includes an emergency clause that allows retailers to sell hemp-derived products, such as CBD oil, immediately.
The ODA has created a web page to explain the hemp program and gather information from those interested in growing or processing hemp.
“Hemp is a cannabis plant that does not produce intoxicating effects, grown for its many industrial uses,” ODA representatives stated in a news release. “Hemp contains a fiber, a grain, and oil that can be extracted for CBD, which is now being used in food and dietary supplements.”
