Study Shows 87% of Consumers Believe These Products are Regulated

Philadelphia, (Oct. 8) – A comprehensive new study from Jeremy Kees, Ph.D with Villanova’s School of Business, reveals that 87% of Pennsylvanians incorrectly believe intoxicating hemp-derived products are government regulated. When in fact these products – which are widely available at gas stations, convenience stores, and vape and smoke shops – are operating without any regulation or safety oversight.

The study underscores not only a proliferating illicit hemp market with 37% of Pennsylvania adults having said they used these products in the past year, but also a disconnect with how consumers view these products. Demand for these products exists due to a lack of comprehensive adult-use cannabis reform, leading 87% of consumers to believe the products are regulated.

When survey participants learned these products are unregulated, 62% expressed concern about the lack of oversight. That number jumped to 70% when people learned most products are synthetically produced in laboratories.

Youth access is also troubling, and 71% support restricting sales to adults 21 and older. 

“Without adult-use legalization, an unregulated, synthetic THC market has filled the void,” said Brit Crampsie, spokesperson for ResponsiblePA. “Harrisburg lawmakers know the solution is to legalize adult-use cannabis under a safe and responsible framework and get rid of the unregulated market.”

Legalizing adult-use cannabis is the only way to:

  • Protect Consumers & Youth: Establish safety testing, age restrictions, and labeling standards.
  • Shut Down the Illicit Synthetic THCMarket: Replace dangerous, unregulated products with a legal framework.
  • Generate Economic Growth: Capture an estimated $2.1 billion in year-one tax revenue and upwards of 30,000 jobs.

Deliver Bipartisan Results: Reflect overwhelming voter support for commonsense regulation across the political spectrum.