“We are treating cannabis-infused beverages exactly like we’re treating alcohol.”
By Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern
The Kentucky Senate superior a invoice Friday that may regulate intoxicating hemp-derived beverages however with out banning their gross sales as first proposed.
The invoice’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, amended Senate Bill 202 after Republicans and Democrats alike expressed skepticism in regards to the ban when the measure was authorised by a committee earlier this week.
Adams’s flooring modification eliminated the non permanent gross sales ban and would as an alternative impose a cap of 5 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, on cannabis-derived drinks. The invoice provides regulation of the intoxicating drinks to state legal guidelines that regulate alcoholic drinks, giving the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control the authority to supervise their distribution and sale.
Raque Adams mentioned her flooring modification supplied a “really solid starting point to put guardrails around this product so it doesn’t get in the hands of our children, guardrails for public health and guardrails for safety while maintaining the small business interests that we have seen across the commonwealth.”
“We are treating cannabis-infused beverages exactly like we’re treating alcohol,” Adams mentioned.
As canned hemp-derived drinks containing THC have been gaining reputation throughout the nation and popping up in comfort shops, state governments have more and more sought to control them.
SB 202 handed the Senate by a vote of 29-6 with the minority of Democrats opposing the laws, arguing that, whereas they agreed with regulating the drinks, the laws was rushed and that senators and the general public weren’t given sufficient time to grasp the adjustments.
Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, mentioned he apprehensive about making an attempt to digest massive adjustments to the bill, noting some hemp-derived drinks have mixtures of varied cannabinoids. Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, questioned the 5 milligram THC restrict as a result of she didn’t understand how the THC within the drinks is absorbed in comparison with gummies or hashish flower.
“I think when we’re dealing with something that is regulating an industry that is currently legal, we have to be able to hear from that industry to make sure that we’re getting these regulations correct and that there aren’t any unintended consequences,” mentioned. Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville.
She mentioned Adams’ invoice “might be the perfect place for us to land” for regulation however that she didn’t have the data to know for positive.
Raque Adams used a “shell” invoice as a automobile for addressing hemp-derived drinks after the deadline for submitting payments had handed. The unique SB 202 made minor technical adjustments within the regulation earlier than Raque Adams changed its contents along with her invoice.
This story was first published by Kentucky Lantern.
Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak.
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