Feds, States, Hemp & CBD — What’s the Latest Drama and Why It Matters

Ohio Hemp Ban, THC Drinks & CBD Market: What’s Going On in 2025

THC & CBD drinks: a “threat” to wine?

At Vinexpo Explorer in Argentina, Pérez Cambet didn’t mince words: “THC and CBD drinks are the biggest threat to the wine industry.” He argues the growth in nonalcoholic, cannabinoid-infused beverages—THC seltzers, CBD mocktails, etc.—may completely reshape how people socialize, drink, and buy. Because these products offer a buzz without alcohol’s hangover, wine (and beer) brands see them as direct competition. As younger consumers explore alternatives, Cambet sees wine’s dominance challenged.

Meanwhile, the cannabis beverage market is booming. A recent analysis notes that liquid cannabis products, drinks, and infused waters are growing rapidly—even amid legal uncertainty.

Ohio’s ban push: business scramble amid uncertainty

In Ohio, things have escalated fast. Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order banning intoxicating hemp products—those with Delta-8, Delta-9, THCA, etc.—for 90 days. The ban took effect October 14, 2025. But that ban was immediately contested in court. A judge paused its enforcement for 14 days. In the interim, Ohio businesses rushed to sell inventory. Some reported selling 1–2 months’ worth of product in just a few days.

One brewery, Fifty West, had cans embargoed and moved by truck across state lines to comply—or at least survive. Another shop claims the ban could cost them $100,000 in lost sales.

Three businesses (Titan Logistics Group, Fumee Smoke & Vape, Invicta Nutraceuticals) filed a lawsuit on October 8, arguing the order bypassed legislative authority. They warn that millions of dollars worth of inventory could become unusable.

Across Columbus and surrounding areas, shops are scrambling. Some already cleared shelves. Others struggle with what to do with remaining stock. Retailers say THC drinks had become 10–15% of their sales.

Supporters of the ban cite concern for youth access and products packaged to look like candy or snack items. DeWine cited poison center data showing young children exposures climbing.

Public opinion & regulatory crosswinds

A recent poll shows three in four American voters want hemp to remain legal, but under enhanced regulation. That suggests a strong base for reform vs. prohibition.

What people are saying (message-board snapshot)

• Supporters of tighter controls: warn of unregulated THC products slipping under the radar, youth access, inconsistent testing, and grey-market risk.
• Opponents: argue that sudden bans kill legal business, crush CBD and hemp infrastructure, and push consumers to underground markets.

Some posts argue that if the state wants safety, it should regulate (age gates, labeling, potency caps), not ban across the board. Others push for banning synthetics but preserving “low-THC, legal hemp.”

Does banning make sense?

Pros cited:

• Curtailing unsafe or mislabeled products
• Protecting children from accidental ingestion
• Bringing more products under regulatory oversight

But the cons loom large:

• Businesses built around hemp/CBD/THC drinks may collapse
• Many legitimate CBD products are caught in the crossfire
• Consumers might shift back to alcohol or unregulated options
• Legal conflict: can a governor override the legislature for this?

In Ohio’s case, lawmakers will have to act before 90 days expire—or let the ban fade. The push shows how fast rules can change in this space—and how vulnerable many businesses are to policy swings.

What to watch next

• The outcome of the lawsuit: whether Ohio’s ban is upheld or blocked
• Whether the legislature enacts rules to regulate intoxicating hemp in a controlled way
• How states with active hemp/CBD industries respond—will they push back?
• How consumer habits shift: will THC drinks eat into wine, spirits, or CBD?
• How poll results and public pressure shape crafting of future laws