Coastal Green Wellness' Commitment
Senate Bill 494, recently signed into law in Georgia, brings significant changes to the state's hemp industry, primarily focusing on consumer protection and regulating the sale of consumable hemp products. Governor Kemp signed the bill on April 30, 2024, and most of its provisions will take effect on October 1, 2024. However, some regulations regarding the location and representation of retail establishments selling hemp products took effect earlier, on July 1, 2024.
Key highlights of SB 494 include:
- Consumer Protection: SB 494 aims to enhance consumer protection by regulating the sale of consumable hemp products.
- Regulatory Updates: The Georgia Department of Agriculture is in the process of drafting new rules to comply with the law. These rules will cover licensing, packaging, labeling, testing, and sales of hemp products. The goal is to ensure consumer safety and maintain product standards throughout the state.
- Retail Sales Restrictions: Hemp products can only be sold in approved retail locations, which must now be licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. This means that businesses selling hemp products must obtain a retail consumable hemp establishment license to operate legally
These updates are designed to improve transparency and safety within the hemp industry, ensuring that consumers have access to safe and accurately labeled products. For more details on the new regulations, you can check the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website here(Georgia Department of Agriculture).
Key Impacts on Customers
- Hemp Flower and THCa Ban: The most significant change is the prohibition of hemp flower in-store sales in Georgia starting October 1st. This also includes all THCa products. We hope more reasonable legislation can be adopted in the future, but this is currently set to take effect October 1st.
- Enhanced Product Safety and Quality: With the new regulations, customers can expect stricter oversight on product quality and safety. The law requires all consumable hemp products to meet certain standards for labeling, packaging, and testing. This ensures products are free from harmful contaminants and accurately labeled with THC and CBD content. This change will reinforce the trust in product safety and quality for Coastal Green Wellness customers.
Coastal Green Wellness' Commitment:
At Coastal Green Wellness, we have always prioritized consumer safety and transparency. We have self-regulated our operations, ensuring:
- Regular Testing: All products undergo third-party testing.
- Transparent Labeling: We provide clear and accurate labeling.
- Responsible dosages per serving and proper labeling.
- Customer Education: We focus on educating our customers.
Due to our existing practices, SB 494 will have minimal impact on our operations. Our customers will continue to have access to a wide range of high-quality hemp products, except for hemp flower and THCa in-store. We have already aligned with many of the bill’s requirements, so our customers will not experience significant changes.
Navigating the Future
As the new law comes into full effect, Coastal Green Wellness remains committed to serving our customers with high-quality hemp products that comply with all state regulations. While the end of in-store hemp flower sales may be disappointing to some, we are confident that our diverse product range will continue to meet your needs. We will also remain transparent and inform you about any further changes that could affect your experience.
If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, feel free to contact our team!
