19-03-2025
Hemp-infused drinks gain popularity: Florida lawmakers fight to curb underage drinking
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Matthew Wetzel owns LGH Dockside Dispensary in Clearwater Beach.
His son was diagnosed with a very rare seizure disorder at just 2 years old.
'He would just heat up, heat up, heat up, until he would end up [having seizures] and he never did, but he could pass away,' Wetzel said.
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Doctors told Wetzel his son was going to die. But then he discovered CBD products.
'Cannabidiol was the only thing that could help him,' he said.
Now Wetzel sells hemp products to help people just like his son who is now 13 years old.
For years, he has been fighting for better regulations.
That's something Polk County Sen. Colleen Burton is also fighting for.
'We have a tightly regulated medical marijuana market, and we have a heavily unregulated hemp market in Florida today,' she said.
Burton introduced a bill this week that would limit THC levels in hemp products to 5 milligrams per serving and 50 milligrams per package.
It would also ban Delta 8, Delta 10, and synthetic products.
You can read the bill in full below.
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'Delta 8 and Delta 10 are synthetic,' Wetzel said. 'We have no idea.'
'We don't have enough research on how it can react with the body once it's consumed,' he continued.
The bill would also require any place selling hemp-infused drinks to have a liquor license.
Charles Bailes is CEO of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, the largest liquor retailer in Florida.
He said hemp-infused beverages are becoming more and more popular.
'They're selling well everywhere in Florida, especially in the Villages, Destin, Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando,' he said. 'I cannot describe to you what the consumer looks like because they look like you and they look like me.'
Bailes says the best way to resolve the issue of underaged people getting their hands on these THC drinks is to restrict sales to places where you have to be 21 or older to enter.
'THC beverages are intoxicating and should be restricted and regarded as such,' he said.
But that is where Wetzel draws the line.
'You should be able to come to a dispensary and get your cannabis opposed to a liquor store,' he said. 'We're trying to limit that.'
'If you're going to a liquor store, you're combining something that's very deadly, which is alcohol with cannabis,' Wetzel continued.
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