A federal judge has granted a 14-day restraining order that allows Seventh Son Brewing and 13 other businesses to sell THC beverages while their lawsuit against the state moves forward.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick granted the order Aug. 7, less than a month after granting a preliminary injunction
allowing 10 companies in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Nelsonville and outside Ohio to sell THC drinks and other hemp products.The plaintiffs sued the state, superintendent of the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, executive director of the Ohio Investigative Unit, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and 96 county and municipal prosecutors' offices.
The 14 plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are:
- Delta Beverages Inc.
- Crescent Canna
- Cheech and Chong’s Beverages
- Torch Drinks LLC
- Fifty West Brewing Company LLC
- Athens Beverage LLC
- The Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland)
- Seventh Son Brewing (Columbus)
- Rhinegeist (Cincinnati)
- Uncle Arnie’s
- Mile High Cure Corp.
- Hometown Hero
- Thee Hemp Co.
- Lifted Liquids Inc.
The plaintiffs either are located in states other
than Ohio or manufacture their products with hemp sourced from states other than Ohio or both.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs asked that any criminal, civil or administrative action not be taken against them by the defendants for selling hemp-derived products as long as they comply with federal law and Ohio laws that were in place before Senate Bill 56, which bans most hemp products in Ohio.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the law on Dec. 19. It initially included a grace period for THC beverages that would have permitted breweries, bars and retailers to sell the drinks through 2026. DeWine vetoed that provision, meaning the drinks couldn't be sold after March 20.
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Seventh Son can resume THC drinks after judge grants restraining order
