As she purchased six hemp-derived THC drinks at Mustard Seed Market & Café on Oct. 10, Akron resident Karen Cordes called it “a bummer” that Ohio’s governor will ban sales of the products for 90 days.
Mustard Seed will remove the products from its store shelves by Oct. 14 to comply with the 90-day ban — the result of an executive order Gov. Mike DeWine signed on Oct. 8 — and has installed signage notifying its customers of the change.
A sign outside of the market’s location in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood states, “Effective: October 14, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., these products will no longer be available for purchase in our stores until further notice.”
But first, Mustard Seed will mark all of its intoxicating hemp products down by 30% starting Oct. 11, Mustard Seed Marketing Leader Heather Corlett said by phone.
Mustard Seed Market, prepares for the 90-day ban on intoxicating hemp from Gov. Mike DeWine, at the West Market Street location in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025.
The market’s other location in the Montrose shopping area of Bath also carries various hemp products, Corlett said via email.
“Gov. DeWine’s 90-day ban on THC-intoxicating hemp products will have a noticeable impact on Mustard Seed Market customers,” Corlett said. “THC and hemp-derived wellness products have become a strong sales category and a key driver of traffic in our stores. Many customers have come to rely on these products for wellness and relaxation, so we anticipate some short-term loss in both sales and customer visits.”
Crafty Steere, an artisanal food market with locations in Copley Township and Tallmadge, announced on Facebook that intoxicating hemp products will be “temporarily unavailable” after Oct. 13.
“Thank you for your patience and drop by to grab one of our delicious THC-infused beverages before the ban!” the announcement reads.
Crafty Steere owner Brian Steere said the business sells four- and six-packs of the beverages at its Copley location but not its Tallmadge location.
Crafty Steere requires purchasers verify that they are 21 years of age or older.
“I think we’re hopeful that in 90 days, maybe they work out more of the regulation where we can (get it to) come back,” Steere said.
Steere also owns the Springside Athletic Club in Bath Township and was planning on selling THC beverages there until the ban was announced.
“We had gotten the inventory but had not made it available yet at Springside,” Steere said.
What’s in THC beverages?
THC refers to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary intoxicating compound in cannabis. Beverages sold outside state-licensed marijuana dispensaries contain THC derived from hemp, which is cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
A standard hemp-infused drink contains 5 or 10 milligrams of THC. Lawmakers have introduced proposals to regulate hemp-derived THC products that include limiting the amount of THC in products.
How are THC beverages legal in Ohio?
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp nationwide and a 2019 Ohio law legalized cultivation here. The law opened the door for industrial hemp and nonintoxicating CBD, but it also created a legal loophole that allows CBD stores, breweries and gas stations to sell hemp-derived cannabis and other gray market products.
Retailer says its intoxicating hemp products are ‘vetted and tested’
A statewide, 90-day ban on the sale of THC-infused beverages and other intoxicating hemp products begins Oct. 14.
At Mustard Seed, Corlett said the intoxicating hemp products that the market carries are from “vetted and tested established brands.”
But, she said, the products represent “only a small fraction of our overall inventory.”
Cordes purchased six single cans of THC-infused beverages and placed them in an cardboard six-pack.
She said she typically looks for products with zero sugar and 5 milligrams of THC.
“A 10 milligram I would consume over maybe two days,” she said.
DeWine concerned about THC products being sold to children
DeWine said hemp products that contain intoxicating THC are getting into the hands of children. But some retailers, such as Mustard Seed, require customers verify they are 21 or older before purchasing any intoxicating hemp-derived drinks, gummies, tinctures and pills.
“We have always required that customers be 21 or older to purchase intoxicating hemp products,” Corlett said.
Karen Cordes, of Akron, stocks up on THC drinks at Mustard Seed Market at the West Market Street location in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025.
Cordes recalled not being asked to provide ID when purchasing intoxicating hemp drinks at a store on a trip to Chicago.
“But here, I’ve been ID’d,” Cordes said of Mustard Seed.
Steere said he would be fine with a regulation requiring that vendors require purchasers are at least 21 years old “because I think it’s a good product for those that are of legal age.”
Mustard Seed to continue selling non-intoxicating hemp products
Mustard Seed Market has THC drinks and gummies on sale in preparation for the 90-ban on intoxicating hemp.
Corlett said Mustard Seed will continue to sell “a wide range of non-intoxicating hemp and CBD products that meet all legal and safety standards.”
These non-intoxicating products include CBD tinctures, oils, topicals and balms that were created in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill, Corlett said.
“We’re hopeful that state leaders and businesses can work together toward a long-term, common-sense solution that supports both consumer choice and public safety,” Corlett said.
She added, “While we’re monitoring the situation closely, we don’t anticipate any significant disruption to our overall business or to our customers’ access to trusted hemp-derived non-intoxicating wellness products.”
Mustard Seed Market prepares for the 90-day ban on intoxicating hemp products at the West Market Street location in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025.
“Mustard Seed Market & Café has served the community for nearly five decades with a focus on health, wellness, and responsibility,” Corlett said. “We are committed to full compliance with state and federal regulations while continuing to provide safe, legal, and non-intoxicating hemp options for our customers.”
Suit filed against DeWine, Ohio Department of Agriculture over ban
Gov. Mike DeWine has implemented a 90-day ban on THC-infused beverages and other intoxicating hemp products beginning Oct. 14.
Three companies — Titan Logistics Group, Fumee Smoke and Vape and Invicta Partners LLC — on Oct. 8 sued DeWine and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. In their suit, filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, the plaintiffs requested that the court “issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction restraining Defendants from implementing and enforcing the Executive Order.”
Cordes supports the effort to block the executive order.
Mustard Seed Market in Akron alerts customers about a 90-day ban on the sale of intoxicating hemp products beginning Oct. 14.
“I also think that the people that are buying this are familiar with what they’re purchasing,” Cordes said. “And let people drink their choice of beverage just as you trust that people are going to purchase whatever alcohol works best for them.”
Karen Cordes, of Akron, stocks up on THC drinks at Mustard Seed Market at the West Market Street location in Akron on Oct. 10, 2025.
The Cincinnati Enquirer contributed to this report.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal’s business and consumer newsletter, “What’s The Deal?“
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron customers, retailers react to ban on intoxicating hemp products