Will Ohio ban THC-infused drinks soon? Retailers scramble to clear inventory
Shops that sell THC-infused beverages are trying to sell off their inventory in anticipation of a statewide ban.
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Will Ohio ban THC-infused drinks soon? Retailers scramble to clear inventory
Laura A. Bischoff
Columbus Dispatch
Updated Oct. 7, 2025, 7:07 p.m. ET
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Beer and wine shops that also sell THC-infused beverages are trying to clear the inventory off their shelves Oct. 7, in anticipation of a ban in Ohio on the drinks starting this week.
Gov. Mike DeWine's office declined to say late Tuesday whether the governor will be shutting down sales of the popular drinks but that's what shopkeepers are hearing.
"Folks, we've received word that there might be an executive order from our governor as early as tomorrow to ban the THC beverages that we've been carrying. That means we'll be stuck with a lot of inventory that we can't sell," Aardvark Wine & Beer near Worthington posted on Facebook. The shop said the ban would be a "big hit" for small businesses and distributors.
The THC drinks are particularly popular among young adults who are drinking less alcohol than previous generations.
The Rambling House posted a message to Instagram, urging customers to buy now and telling Ohio leaders that a sudden ban will hurt small businesses.
"Rambling was the first manufacturer of these drinks way back in 2020. The whole idea is simple: give people a fun, relaxing option for when they don't want a beer but still want to enjoy a drink with friends and good music," the post says.
Beer and wine shops and other retailers that sell THC-infused beverages are trying to clear their inventory on Oct. 7 in anticipation of a statewide ban. Savor Growl in Columbus stocks a variety of the beverages. Amelia Robinson
DeWine is not fan of THC-infused drinks and edibles sold at gas stations, beer and wine stores and elsewhere.
DeWine first called on Ohio lawmakers to restrict access to intoxicating hemp in January 2024.
"The current loophole that allows these dangerous products to be sold to children needs to be closed as soon as possible," he said at the time.
In the months since, state legislators have not enacted proposed laws to require intoxicating hemp products, such as delta-8 THC, to be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries and to impose THC limits on drinks. The proposals were stymied by lawmakers' lack of consensus on a variety of marijuana questions looming since Ohioans legalized the product in a 2023 vote.
Ohio is in this position because the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp nationwide and defined it as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC, the compound that produces a high. The law opened the door for industrial hemp and CBD, but it also created a legal loophole that allows CBD stores, breweries and gas stations to sell hemp-derived cannabis and other gray market products.
