California’s Hemp Product Regulation Sparks Uncertainty for Patients
As the deadline for Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency industry regulations for hemp products approaches, the more than five million Californians who rely on hemp are left in a state of uncertainty. Among those affected is 11-year-old Brooke Adams, who suffers from dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that causes seizures.
Brooke’s mother, Jana Adams, has found that CBD products have been effective in reducing the frequency and duration of her daughter’s seizures. However, the new regulations would ban products containing THC, a compound found in industrial hemp, and require that hemp intended for human consumption has no detectable THC.
Dr. Lynn Silver, senior advisor at the Public Health Institute, supports the regulations, citing concerns that the legalized hemp industry has created highly intoxicating lookalike chemicals to THC. However, Paige Figi, executive director of Coalition for Access Now, believes the regulations are too broad and target more than just bad actors.
Jana Adams has stockpiled thousands of dollars worth of medicine for her daughter, fearing that the new regulations will limit access to these products. Despite the uncertainty, she remains committed to fighting for her daughter’s access to these products.
The regulations, which aim to create a minimum age for purchasing hemp products and limit the number of servings for packaging, have raised concerns among patients and advocates. As the deadline for approval approaches, it remains to be seen how the regulations will impact the lives of those who rely on hemp products.
