DUBLIN, Ga. — A new Georgia law is shaking things up in the hemp-sale industry.
Governor Kemp signed the Georgia Hemp Farming Act in May, and it covers new guidelines sellers have to follow.
You must now be 21 or older to buy consumable hemp products, sellers will need to better label their goods, and businesses must get state licenses to manufacture or sell hemp products.
It's started affecting business at The CBD Source in downtown Dublin.
"People are scared. I don't know if it's actually people are scared to buy it and get in trouble walking out the store," owner Joseph Loadholt said.
Loadholt opened his business in 2023, but said this summer his sales have dropped almost 50%. He thinks that could be from confusion surrounding the bill, over what's legal or illegal.
"I've gotten to the point where the first few days of October until I can get in writing, what I can sell, I may not even open," Loadholt said.
The bill was supposed to take effect July 1, but was pushed off until Oct. 1.
Loadholt said under the new rules, he can't sell his best-selling products that make up about 85% of his sales- hemp flower, pre-rolled hemp and hemp vapes.
"Those are the key items that people wanna come in and get because it's instant relief from pain. Pain relief, or it's a safer alternative than going to the black market," Loadholt said.
He's not the only one worried about the future of the hemp-industry. Robert Milhous founded the Georgia Cannabis Project, which researches and promotes hemp products. He said he can see it wiping out small businesses all across Georgia.
"They're going to lose their livelihood. They set up as a dispensary, and now we're gonna take it away," Milhous said.
Since the the new hemp bill passed, he's been guiding businesses across Georgia on how to navigate the unknowns.
"None of us are gonna be able to legally sell it, but they can sell it to us from other states and ship it to us. That is the most absurd thing in the world," Milhous said.
He said it's a huge loss for Georgia's small businesses, and that's why he's going to continue advocating against it.
Another problem both Loadholt and Milhouse have with the new law is it requires testing for all hemp-derived products.
Loadholt said his products are already tested and found to be in legal limits of delta-9, but if they get tested again- months later, their potency will have increased.