The sale of intoxicating hemp flower products and vaporizers is now banned in Texas under new rules that went into effect on March 31. yardstick reports.

Department of State Health Services (DSHS) approved rule changes in early March, when officials approved the agency’s final hemp product regulations.

The state now limits THCA content in hemp products, which previously did not count toward the federal limit of 0.3% delta-9 THC. While THCA itself is not intoxicating, it is converted to delta-9 THC during the decarboxylation process, which occurs when the cannabinoid is heated, smoked, or vaporized. The change only affects sales of hemp products, not possession, but it targets nearly all hemp-derived flower, pre-roll and vapor products previously available in the state.

Other changes under the new regime include significantly higher licensing fees for sellers and manufacturers of hemp products. Licensing costs for hemp producers have increased from about $250 to $10,000 for both initial and annual renewal fees, while licensing and renewal fees for retailers of hemp products have increased from $155 to $5,000.

The rules also tighten packaging and testing requirements for THC hemp products that remain available, including infused foods and beverages.

Changes to Ohio’s hemp regulations and voter-approved cannabis reforms for adults will go into effect this week on Thursday, March 19.

According to the new rules, sales of intoxicating hemp products are prohibited. The rules also create new THC caps of 70% for cannabis concentrate products and 35% for cannabis flower products and establish new crimes for possession of cannabis products from out-of-state sources. The rules will also require cannabis to be kept in its original packaging and stored in the trunk of vehicles during transit.

The changes, which Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed into law in December, prompted a voting campaign to repeal the legislation.

Campaign advocates are trying to collect the 250,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot before March 19, as that would delay implementation of the rules until the electorate decides. Cleveland.com reports.

DeWine said in February that the advocates behind the repeal campaign should stop “yelling” for changing the reforms approved by the voters by the legislators.

The legislation originally included a cut for THC-infused hemp beverage products, but the governor’s line item vetoed that provision.

A Multistate Cannabis -based cannabis operator has filed a lawsuit claiming that smoke stores and other hemp products sellers engage in unfair trading practices that underestimate cannabis legal industry, The Philadelphia Inquirer Reports.

The complaint was filed Wednesday by some of Jushi Holdings Inc. based on Scranton, which operates 18 cannabis Stores in the state.

Adult use cannabis remains prohibited in Pennsylvania. However, as in many other countries, the federal legalization of industrial hemp-and the subsequent spread of intoxicating hemp products, called “weeds of fuel station” in complaints-led to a gray, hemp-based, thing-based market.

“The influx of these illegal products to unregulated retail channels directly undermines the regulated Commonwealth Medical Marijuana program. This grant scheme (smoke stores) a considerable and illegal economic advantage, shifts compliance loads to legitimate operators, endangers public health and destabilizes the regulated market.” – fragment from the lawsuit

Lawmakers at Pennsylvania’s house this year approved a bill for legalization of cannabis for adult use but proposal died soon in the Senate.

Meanwhile, four of the five neighboring Pennsylvania-New York states, New Jersey, Maryland and Ohio and neighboring Canada have adopted all policies to legalize and regulate adult use cannabis.