goldenhour responds to “the great hemp hoax” study

A new white paper – The Great Hemp Hoax – analyzing 104 “hemp” products from 68 brands has revealed a disturbing pattern of deception in California's unregulated hemp market. 

The study found that 95% of tested products contained prohibited synthetic cannabinoids, with some gummies containing 32 times more THC than legally allowed in California's regulated cannabis market. Nearly half of the products contained THCP, a synthetic compound up to 30 times more potent than natural THC. 

Beyond the serious public health concerns, the investigation uncovered widespread tax evasion, with 91% of tested products failing to collect California sales taxes and none remitting required cannabis excise taxes. 

In response, Goldenhour Collective CEO David Spradlin issued the following:

"The white paper’s findings confirm what many of us in California's legal cannabis industry have long suspected: too many of these products aren’t natural, but laboratory-created compounds masquerading as hemp, dodging taxes and safety standards while pushing multi-generational cannabis farmers toward extinction.

As someone who's spent over 15 years building compliant cannabis businesses, I'm deeply troubled by these revelations. This isn't just about market competition – it's about public health and consumer trust. When people buy what they think is hemp, they deserve to know exactly what they're putting in their bodies.

And the inefficiency and environmental waste are staggering. These synthetic producers need up to 50 times more plant material than traditional cannabis farms to produce the same amount of THC. Just to create a single 2-gram vape, they're burning through 19 pounds of hemp biomass – while our legacy cannabis farmers can achieve the same yield with a fraction of the resources.

At Goldenhour, we've always believed in conscious consumption and transparency. Every product on our shelves can be traced back to local, family-owned, and legacy cannabis farms that take pride in their craft and comply with California's rigorous safety standards. 

The future of cannabis lies in preserving traditional cannabis farming methods and maintaining high safety standards – not in synthetic shortcuts that put profits over people's well-being. 

We support Governor Newsom's emergency regulations and urge lawmakers to take more decisive action to protect consumers and support legitimate cannabis businesses. It’s time to advance policies that ensure all intoxicating cannabinoid products are subject to robust regulatory oversight and enforcement."

Learn more and download the white paper at hemphoax.com. 

SEE ALSO: The Goldenhour Podcast’s episode on Understanding the Difference: Regulated Cannabis vs. Hemp-Derived Products