MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA — A new law set to take effect on July 1, 2024, has sparked concerns across Iowa, particularly among businesses dependent on the state’s hemp industry.
House File 2605, signed into law in mid-May, imposes strict limits on the THC content of consumable hemp products sold in Iowa. The law mandates a maximum of four milligrams of THC per serving and ten milligrams per container, a significant reduction from current allowances.
Des Moines businesses predict that this new regulation will render 90-95% of their current inventory illegal. In Marshalltown, Joshua Brown, manager of The Lounge, expressed grave concerns about the future of the industry.
“It’s the complete death of an industry unfortunately,” Brown lamented. “I have cancer patients and people recovering from surgeries who rely on these products because they prefer them over pharmaceuticals. This new law means people will lose jobs, businesses will close, and thousands will be affected. If our store owner hadn’t adapted our business model, we would have had to shut down, and I would have lost my home. That’s the harsh reality we’re facing.”
Brown highlighted that only two products in their store would comply with the new law once it goes into effect. He remains hopeful that lawmakers will reconsider, recognizing the benefits these hemp products provide to residents in Marshalltown and beyond.
As the law’s implementation date approaches, the impact on Iowa’s hemp industry remains to be seen, but the anxiety among business owners and consumers is palpable.