COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Agriculture, which regulates hemp and CBD products in the state, has issued a public health warning for all Limitless CBD LLC products, saying they were made without a state license.
Although there have been no reports of illness involving Limitless’ cannabidiol, or CBD, products, the state regulators say they were produced without a license and outside of Ohio Department of Agriculture inspection, which is required under the year-old state law allowing for the cultivation of industrial hemp and CBD products.
The Department of Agriculture is encouraging anyone who has any Limitless products to discard them.
The company, which produces CBD oil in Avon and has sales offices in Cleveland, has made its products for sale on the internet, and for gas stations and convenience stores, and doesn’t have a storefront, said Will Norman, general counsel for Limitless CBD.
The company also purchases CBD products from other companies and sells them.
Norman called the incident a misunderstanding.
Norman said the company has begun the process of applying for a license from the Department of Agriculture to process hemp to CBD oil.
“We are very close to getting our license,” he said. “We have a beautiful facility. It’s safe, it’s clean. We will have our license soon.”
The Department of Agriculture received a telephone complaint on Aug. 20 from someone saying Limitless CBD was producing hemp products without a license.
“ODA made several attempts to contact Limitless without a return call,” said department spokeswoman Shelby Croft. “Eventually, an attorney representing Limitless CBD made contact with ODA and confirmed the company was manufacturing hemp products.”
A department inspector visited the manufacturing facility Aug. 27 and banned the sale of its finished products, Croft said.
It’s the first time the department has issued a hemp product warning. Typically, Croft said, the state doesn’t have to issue warnings because companies recall their products on their own.
“Limitless CBD elected not to issue a voluntary recall,” Croft said.
CBD products have been popular in recent years, with champions saying its chemical compounds contain medicinal properties.
Hemp, closely related to marijuana, is the plant from which CBD is derived. State law specifies that the hemp plants and CBD oils cannot contain more than 0.3% of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which produces the high in marijuana.
More coverage:
Gov. Mike DeWine signs bill legalizing industrial hemp, CBD products
State crime lab can now distinguish between marijuana and hemp, allowing more pot cases in courts
Ohio Department of Agriculture accepting applications to grow, process hemp starting Tuesday