Will California’s Hemp Ban Cost The State Billions? ‘Just The Drink Category Is Worth Over A Billion’ Says Expert
California’s recent emergency regulations targeting hemp-derived products are making waves across the cannabis industry. Governor Gavin Newsom‘s emergency order has sparked concerns, with businesses questioning the sweeping restrictions and their impact on the state and national markets.
Brandon Harshbarger, president of Cheech & Chong Global Holdings, weighed in on the implications of these changes for the industry. Speaking ahead of his appearance at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, Harshbarger detailed how the restrictions are already causing fallout across California’s cannabis and hemp markets.
Restricting Hemp: Who Wins and Who Loses?
Harshbarger, whose company operates in both the recreational cannabis and hemp markets in California, emphasized the disconnect between the state’s portrayal of hemp products and the reality. “We’ve been more vocal than some, but the reality is there are some very large rec operators that are also producing excellent hemp-derived …