ABC Marks One Year of Illegal Hemp Product Enforcement at Licensed Locations

Sacramento – The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is marking one year of identifying and removing illegal hemp products from ABC-licensed locations in the state.

The Department has been enforcing an emergency regulation published by the California Department of Public Health in late September 2024. The order prohibits the marketing, offering for sale, or sale of industrial hemp products intended for human use (including food, beverages, and dietary supplements) that contain a detectable level of total THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids.

“We continue to see overwhelming compliance by ABC-licensees throughout the state,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “We are at approximately 99 percent compliance, which is an overwhelming success. We appreciate the support of our licensees throughout the year.”

Since ABC agents began incorporating illegal hemp product enforcement into operations on September 30, 2024, they have visited more than 14,959 individual licensees and removed 7,210 illegal products from store shelves. Over the course of the year, 151 locations were found to stock the illegal products, approximately 90% of those violations occurring in the first three months after the order.

“This calendar year, licensee compliance has been nearly universal,” Tupy said. “It is very rare to find illegal products on the shelf, which is keeping Californians safe.”

ABC informed licensees that they may not carry, market, or sell products that do not comply with the regulations. Businesses that fail to follow the law could face legal or administrative discipline, including loss of license.
ABC will continue to visit licensed locations throughout the state to enforce the new regulations and ensure illegal products are not being sold.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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