ATLANTA, Ga. (WGXA) — Senate Bill 33 and Senate Bill 254 both aim to restrict the THC products currently available at smoke shops and gas stations.
However, Joe Salome, the co-founder of Georgia Hemp Company, says these bills are going to hurt small businesses even more.
“It’s frustrating because we just lost 50% of our revenue after the bills that passed last year and now when you talk about decreasing and taking away more products..Okay how much more revenue can you take out of what we’re doing,” said Salome.
RELATED |Georgia lawmakers pass medical cannabis expansion, tighten THC restrictions in local shops
Georgia lawmakers have had several bills pertaining to cannabis in the last several years.
Senate Bill 494 took effect last October and it allows regulation on hemp products.
Salome says now lawmakers have changed their tune to the hemp industry and it’s impacting businesses.
“I’ve got a friend. He owns a company called the Hatch Club… It’s a beverage and he started this 8 months ago knowing the bills were going to support his beverage and now hundreds of thousands of dollars are invested in launching a company… He last Friday was like what do you mean…You just said I could do this,” said Salome.
Besides lawmakers aiming to restrict hemp, there is a bill that would increase the percentage of medical cannabis.
“Everything we’re doing is legal federally, but the state of Georgia is allowed to make their own rules so this is affecting small businesses. I have to look at the other side of it and say okay, you’re increasing medical cannabis potency, you’re giving them vapes, but you’re taking a lot from us,” said Salome.
STATE NEWS |Breakdown of bills that survived or died Georgia’s 2025 Crossover Day
Salmone says he hopes lawmakers will take small hemp businesses into consideration before the bill passes.
“We’re hopeful that we can have a positive conversation. We’re hopeful there are officials in the ranks who see the other side of this and push against it,” said Salome.
