New York State has adopted hemp regulations that will effectively ban the products that thousands of New Yorkers use for sleep, pain, anxiety relief, and overall wellness. While consumer safety is important, the current approach — including the unworkable 1mg THC : 15mg CBD ratio — makes these products functionally useless.

This is not regulation.
This is prohibition disguised as policy.

I urge Governor Kathy Hochul and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to reconsider these proposed rules. Instead of imposing rigid bans, a more balanced approach is needed. We want you to follow states with functional hemp regulations like:

Minnesota: 5mg THC per serving
Tennessee: 5mg
Alabama: 10mg
Florida: 10mg
Wisconsin: 10mg
Kentucky: 10mg
Why the 1:15 Ratio Doesn’t Work

New Yorkers use hemp-derived cannabinoids for legitimate wellness purposes. The proposed 1mg THC per 15mg CBD rule is:

❌ Not supported by science
❌ Too weak to provide relief
❌ Not used by any functional hemp program nationwide

Most states — including Minnesota, California, Tennessee, and others — safely allow 5–10mg THC per serving with strict testing and age restrictions. These models work. They protect consumers AND preserve access. New York’s 1:15mg ratio is biologically and scientifically incapable of producing the therapeutic outcomes adults rely on hemp for. It is a de facto ban, disguised as “regulation.”

New York should follow evidence, not fear.

 
New York Is Losing Millions to Out-of-State Sellers

Here’s the biggest problem:
Even as New York restricts its own businesses, out-of-state companies ship hemp products into NY every single day via UPS, USPS, and FedEx.

These products enter New York with:

• No tax contribution
• Little oversight

Meanwhile, New York-based retailers and manufacturers are blocked from selling the same products under a regulated system.

This policy:

• Hurts NY small businesses
• Eliminates NY jobs
• Pushes commerce to other states
• Removes all consumer safeguards
• Sends tax revenue out of New York

New York deserves better than a system that exports revenue and imports risk.

What New Yorkers Are Asking For

We urge New York State to adopt a balanced, workable regulatory model that includes:

·      A realistic adult-use THC serving limit of 5–10mg

·      Age restrictions (21+)

This model protects consumers and protects the state.

What’s at Stake

Thousands of New Yorkers rely on hemp-derived products every day for:

• Sleep
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Alcohol reduction
• Mental health support
• Wellness and recovery

Eliminating functional hemp products:

• undermines consumer safety
• hurts legitimate NY small businesses
• does nothing to address public health

We need regulation, not elimination.

We Are Calling On Governor Hochul and OCM To:

Reevaluate the 1:15 ratio and replace it with a workable 5–10mg serving cap
Allow regulated adult-use hemp sales by New York businesses
Build a fair regulatory framework that puts consumers first

Add Your Name

If you believe New York should adopt sensible, science-based hemp regulations, please sign and share this petition.

Together, we can protect access, protect safety, and protect New York.