Hemp might sound harmless, but a new wave of synthetic hemp products is wreaking havoc in 2025 — and few people even know it’s happening.

In the latest episode of the Independent Voter Podcast’s “How It Really Works” series, guest host Tony Manolatos welcomes veteran cannabis industry journalist Chris Casacchia for a deep dive into the troubling rise of synthetic hemp.

Thanks to a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, manufacturers can produce hemp-derived products that pack a potent — and sometimes dangerous — punch. Unlike regulated marijuana sold in licensed dispensaries to adults 21 and older, synthetic hemp is often cooked up in warehouses with little oversight, no mandatory testing, and sometimes laced with unknown additives.

“It’s essentially an emerging public health crisis,” warns Tony, citing reports of children winding up in emergency rooms after consuming gummies or vapes that look like candy but contain extremely high levels of THC or other synthetic compounds.

Chris explains how the situation spiraled:

• The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
  
  
• That opened the door for hemp-derived THC products, some natural, some synthetic.
  
  
• Synthetic hemp products can be exponentially more potent than legal cannabis — but sold legally in many states due to gaps in regulation.
  
  
• They’re widely available online and in gas stations, smoke shops, and liquor stores — often with candy-like packaging that appeals to teens.
  
  

“Even in states like California, where there’s a moratorium on these products, it’s almost impossible to enforce,” says Chris. “A kid can go online, click a few buttons, and have this stuff delivered to their doorstep. And law enforcement’s not going to show up at the door to intercept it.”

The flood of cheap, synthetic hemp products also undercuts legitimate cannabis businesses, which face strict regulations, heavy taxes, and costly licensing requirements. Meanwhile, kids can easily get their hands on synthetic hemp — a substance that remains in a legal gray zone and poses unpredictable risks.

Chris emphasizes that not all hemp products are bad actors. Many reputable companies produce low-dose hemp-derived beverages and edibles as alternatives to alcohol. But without strong federal regulation, the market remains the Wild West — and bad actors thrive.

Parents, Chris urges, must educate their kids:

“Like with alcohol, you have to have conversations about marijuana and hemp. Just because you can buy it at a gas station doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

The conversation underscores a sobering reality: as synthetic hemp quietly grows into a billion-dollar market, children’s health — and public safety — hang in the balance.

Listen to the full episode at olasmedia.com and read more articles or get involved at IVN.US.