Cheech & Chong Sue CA Over Rule Banning THC From Food: Reports

LOS ANGELES — Comedy duo Cheech & Chong are suing the state over new bans on certain hemp products, according to reports.

Actors Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong also run a cannabis company and joined other hemp businesses as well as the U.S. Hemp Roundtable in taking legal action against the regulations banning the sale of hemp food, drinks and dietary products with detectable amounts of THC, the Los Angeles Times reported. The rules also require people to be 21 or older to buy hemp products and limit servings per package to five, according to the Times.

The lawsuit against the state public health department was filed last week in Los Angeles after the emergency rules were announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, the newspaper reported. The ban will be in effect until March as an interim measure to allow lawmakers to develop new legislation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The businesses said they will lose millions and may have to shutter due to the regulations, while Newsom contends the state is trying to protect young people from dangerous products, the Times reported.