Local shops react to DeWine’s delta-8 stance

Calls from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for a ban on delta-8, or at least more regulation on it and other cannabinoids, has left some area shop owners concerned the governor is broadly lumping well-meaning small businesses in with bad actors.

DeWine called for a ban or age limits on delta-8 citing health risks and the accessibility of the product to minors.

State officials sent a pair of 15-year-olds to a gas station in Clark County where they bought delta-8 products with no difficulty. DeWine displayed the items they purchased, including a colorful pack of gummies sponsored by NBA star James Harden and two cereal bars with packaging that spoofed popular brands.

Chris Voudris, managing partner at Vapor Haus, which operates shops around Dayton, said in a statement that he agrees with the governor’s stance on keeping the product away from minors but said the governor’s illustration of the industry was narrow.

“What was shown, were, in fact, knockoff products that are not sold in the mainstream and are manufactured by companies that have been litigated against by major companies due to trademark infringement,” Voudris wrote. “The majority of legitimate retailers do not carry these products.”

Voudris said he agrees with the governor’s stance on keeping products away from minors, but noted that “the businesses who are good actors in the industry are doing these things already.”

Jeff Butterfield, owner of ButterBuds Canna Co. in Monroe, told this news organization that he’s been carding people since Day 1. He called it the “responsible thing to do” for shop owners and admitted he didn’t even know shops could forego that option in Ohio.

And while he, too, agrees with the state banning direct sales to minors, he feels a total ban on delta-8 or any other cannabinoid would be a step too far.

“Delta-8 isn’t the issue. It’s shady shops being shady,” Butterfield said. He characterized a ban as “more government control that is summing down people that should be (able) to make their own decisions and have more self-accountability for their own actions.”

The delta-8 compound is one of over a hundred cannabinoids