OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 642 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 642’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Carruthers
Effective date:
Jeff Grim, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
▪ Requires the Director of Agriculture to study and adopt recommendations regarding
adult-use hemp products, including recommendations concerning the following:
 A definition of adult-use hemp products that captures all possible forms of hemp and
hemp products that can be used for intoxicating purposes;
 Locations where adult-use hemp products may be sold; and
 Minimum age requirements for persons permitted to purchase adult-use hemp
products.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
The bill requires the Director of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Public
Safety, to conduct a study regarding the sale and use of hemp products that could be used for
intoxicating purposes. Within 30 days of the bill’s effective date, the Director must issue a report
to the General Assembly and include in the report recommendations concerning the following:
1. A definition of adult-use hemp products that captures all possible forms of hemp and
hemp products that can be used for intoxicating purposes. The definition may include
restrictions on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) permitted in adult-use hemp
products. The recommended restrictions must be based on serving size and THC content
per package of hemp product.
2. Locations where adult-use hemp products may be sold, including any restrictions or
requirements on how or where the adult-use hemp products may be stored at the time
of retail sale;
3. Minimum age requirements for persons permitted to purchase adult-use hemp products;
4. Penalties for selling adult-use hemp to an underage person;
November 5, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
5. Testing standards and requirements for adult-use hemp products;
6. Advertising restrictions and labeling requirements for adult-use hemp products;
7. Enforcement mechanisms, such as providing the Ohio Investigative Unit in the
Department of Public Safety with inspection authority; and
8. Any other recommendations that the Director, in consultation with the Department of
Public Safety, determines will aid the General Assembly in ensuring that adult-use hemp
products are safe and not available to children and other underage persons.
Upon making recommendations, the Director may adopt rules in accordance with the
Administrative Procedures Act implementing the recommendations. If rules are adopted, the
rules are effective for one year after the issuance of the recommendations. Thereafter, the rules
are not operative.
The bill exempts rules adopted by the Director of Agriculture governing implementing the
recommendations from continuing law requirements concerning reductions in regulatory
restrictions. Currently, the Director must take actions to reduce regulatory restrictions, including,
by June 30, 2025, reducing the amount of regulatory restrictions contained in an inventory
created in 2019 in accordance with a statutory schedule. A “regulatory restriction” is any part of
an administrative rule that requires or prohibits an action.1
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 07-18-24
ANHB0642IN-135/ts
1 Section 1.
P a g e |2 H.B. 642
As Introduced