Cheech & Chong sue California over ban on THC from food: reports

LOS ANGELES – Comedy duo Cheech & Chong are reportedly suing the state over new bans on certain hemp products.

Actors Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong also run a cannabis company and have joined other hemp companies and the US Hemp Roundtable in taking legal action against Los Angeles regulations that ban the sale of hemp foods, drinks and diet products with detectable amounts of THC, the Times reported. According to the Times, the rules also require people to be at least 21 years old to purchase hemp products and limit servings per package to five.

The lawsuit against the state health department was filed last week in Los Angeles after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the emergency rules in September, the newspaper reported. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the ban will be considered an interim measure until March to allow lawmakers to draft new laws.

The companies said they would lose millions and could be forced to close because of the regulations, while Newsom claimed the state was trying to protect young people from dangerous products, the Times reported.