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The recent Federal push to ban or severely restrict THC-based THC products is the latest chapter in a long-running saga that focuses more on tolerance than consumer confusion.
But while the other goal of protecting public health is popular, the consequences of sweeping bans can be disastrous.
Last week, Congress passed a bill signed into law by President Donald Trump that specifically targets Cannabinoid language – including DELTA-8 THC and THCA for a one-year grace period.
The Hemp Thc ban extends not only to the synthetic cannabinoids that are produced but also requires that the finished cannabinoid products obtained contain no more than 0.4 mg of total THC administrative,.
That’s an impossible standard for many products on the market, including CBD-enriched concoctions.
Legitimate concerns over hemp Thc, but the ban will have unintended consequences
There is good reason to be concerned about hemp.
The 2018 FARM Bill legacy left a regulatory gap. By certifying “hemp” legally but failing to control the improper marketing of cannabis with “hemp” intoxicating products “to be sold through smoke shops, gas stations and the Internet a little towards Marijuana prepared by the state.
Law enforcement and Relulators point to the risk of products that attract youth, do not have child-resistant packaging and are sold without adequate dosing information. But what would be the result of discovery?
The Hemp Thc ban is predicted to wipe out up to 95% of the existing US Hemp-based cannabinoid market, and cost more than $1.5 billion in tax dollars.
The worst: Bans rarely eliminate demand. They simply push those streams of demand underground, in unregulated markets with few safety nets and little consumer education.
As someone who works on the “Education-Wellness side” of the cannabis industry, I would argue that this moment is not a call to end HEMP-based THC but to educate. An education-first approach can better align with public health goals, social welfare and sustainable business models.
Here’s why.
Consumers are always confused, not cruel
Many older artists talk about cannabis for well-being, relief, creative work or balanced recreation but are overly frustrated by labeling that emphasizes serious words, THC percentages, or hidden cannabinoids.
Often they don’t know what “Delta-8” vs “vs” vs “vs” vs “vs” vs “vs” vs “” means, or the concentration, dose or terpene profile can influence the experience. This confusion reduces confidence, is overdrawn, or draws users back to illegal sources.
An education-based marketing plan changes the narrative from “just get high” to “You’re knowledgeable and relevant to your purpose.”
Label clarification and dosing guidelines
When the products carry transparent, clear information such as verified lab information, terpene and cannabinoid profiles and expected time, Consurers feel more confident, make safe choices, and sellers build trust users and multiply users.
We have long supported the concept of simple behavioral decision-making, reliable information reduces mental overload and increases satisfaction and loyalty. (For more recent research on consumer behavior in Cannabis Retail see here.)
Another way to land a mystery box is where buyers guess what happens next.
Regulation can reduce the unity of innovation – not just the limit
Instead of taking all THC-based THC products, Regultrations can distinguish between product tigers (prone to good profit, high potency, need child marketing, almost true marketing and ensure the testing of this external.
This allows older consumers to access different options while maintaining security. It also encourages entrepreneurs to remove products from the environment, products that are low in THC rather than chasing the “high” edge in the “potency race.”
Jobs, tax revenue and responsible markets are at risk
In the states where cannabinoids are extracted, thousands of small businesses, farms, adving adfunct and solicitor service providers depend on that sector. A blanket ban can hurt many of them.
Instead, an education-first, mandated approach supports job creation, saves tax dollars in the state and helps create a regulated market that can compete with the illegal side.
For example, in Teeve-Red Texas, governor Greg Abbott unveiled a bill that would ban Hemp-Inf-Inflated Hemp products, highlighting the need for regulation rather than prohibition. And the state is moving forward with that plan despite congressional action.
Education builds social trust and good policies
When regulators see a transparent, CABLE-safe and responsible market, there are more opportunities to cooperate instead than to hold back. On the other hand, when markets are opaque, the temptation is to respond with restraint.
By embedding consumer literacy, Point-of-Sale Education, BudTender certification and product differentiation based on legislation, the industry can raise its credibility and reduce regulatory backlash.
Putting this into Worpt would look something like our “framework” model. The first-ever clarification system that categorizes cannabis products not by potency or thc alone, but by intended experience:
- Wellness (: gentle, pleasant, support of body balance.
- Lifestyle (10-20% thc): Functional, social work, creating flow.
- Fun (> 20% thc): Recommended, maximum experience for experienced users.
When it was covered with Point-Sale data sheets that translate the results of the lever, the direction of the terpene and the direction of the dosing in a clear language, and when the staff of the stores receive training that is guaranteed in communicating with responsible consumers, you get a sales experience that does not sell. It is educational.
In Rhode Island, we’re piloting this model in partnership with a local retailer, which aims to prove a measurable impact on customer satisfaction, repeat visits and safe use.
A similar approach can and should be scaled up nationally. It addresses both consumer welfare and regulatory demands without resorting to restrictions that undermine industry, innovation and tax revenue.
Redirecting the conversation from bans to bridges
The current wave of legislation aimed at banning THC-based products is a sign: Regulators are shocked. However, alarm is not a strategy. We have to move away from the siege of the consumer position. We need a smart rule-book, not a blunt instrument of prohibition.
If the future of cannabis is going to be about choice, health, empowerment and consumer literacy, then the market needs to rise. Industry stakeholders’ products, marketers, educators, policy advisors must prioritize transparent education, responsible product design, and alignment with consumer goals.
When consumers understand what to use, why it works, and how to use it safely, we reduce risk, build trust and increase the value of people, business and society.
Restrictions can depress you, but education develops confidence. And confidence is what drives a truly sustainable cannabis market.
The question now is: Will the industry help regulators by providing a bridge instead of increasing the wave of prohibition?
Dr. Magnus Shorsson’s brand Is a professor of Cannabis Studies at Johnson & Wales University and founder of Canna curious Hellness, a Rhode Island based consumer safety company that promotes consumer safety, cannabis knowledge, and responsible retail training.
