Latest news with #THC-infused
Eater
29-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
What Happens at Restaurants and Bars if THC Is Banned in Texas?
Senate Bill 3, which bans tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) sales in the state of Texas, has passed the Texas Senate and House and is on its way to Governor Greg Abbott's desk to be signed or vetoed. The bill, authored by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), closes a loophole opened in 2019 when legislators passed a law allowing the sale of consumable hemp. It is heavily supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and co-sponsored by 10 other Republican senators. According to a report, the Legislative Budget Board predicts that SB3 will result in $19.27 million in related revenue losses for the state over the next two years, with millions more in losses to city, county, and transit authorities, according to Texas Policy Research. Currently, veterans and hemp activist groups are lobbying Abbott to veto the bill. If the bill is signed into law, it will take effect on September 1, 2025. Between now and then, Texas bars and restaurants that sell THC-infused drinks, and Texas businesses that make and distribute those drinks, are in limbo. 'I think I have the high-level reaction that a lot of people are having, where [the bill] impacts a $10 billion industry that provides 50,000 plus jobs,' says Zach Shor, co-owner of Goodsurf Beach Club in Dallas, which serves THC-infused canned drinks from the Dallas-based distributor Cali Sober. 'I don't think it's smart from an economic point of view, and I think it is going to push the consumer back into the black market.' And, he notes, it will hurt the wellness aspects of his business. Along with serving food and drinks, Goodsurf hosts outdoor activities, including surfing and pickleball. 'We held a weekend event called the Anti-Snooze club, with coffee, cold plunges, yoga, surfing,' Shor says. 'That was sponsored by Cali Sober. Non-alcoholic drinks, including Cali Sober and Beach Break drinks, another Texas-owned business, sold really well because not everyone wants to do yoga and have a margarita.' His business also 'sold a lot of booze,' Shor adds, 'because people have a mindset that they want to be good so they can be bad, but not everyone wants to get drunk.' If the bill is signed into law, Shor will have to rethink not only his menu but also which programs Goodsurf offers and where to find sponsorship for them. The Texas legislature attempted to avoid a full THC ban by revising SB3 in a House committee, which sought to regulate and tax the product instead. The bill that ultimately passed is a full prohibition against THC, but also broadens who can access THC as a patient. It includes an expansion of the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) to include chronic pain under the guidance of a doctor, quadruples the number of licenses for medical marijuana dispensers, and allows for satellite storage facilities that make it easier for patients to fill medical marijuana prescriptions. The sale of non-psychoactive, non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products would still be legal. Still, the ban on THC might not be as effective as lawmakers hope. Aaron Owens, the founder of Dripping Springs-based Tejas Tonic and one of the founders of the Texas Hemp Coalition, says his tonics will still be available for sale if SB3 passes. 'We call [our drinks] terp boosted. We grow different varieties of hemp that have different essential oils, or terpens, profiles to create different smells, flavors, or effects,' he explains. 'If we are forced to reformulate within the new rules — because they haven't banned everything, just THC — we are going to stay here and keep manufacturing products.' The company will also not leave the state of Texas, Owens says, although he has heard talk from many other hemp-based product producers who will. As part of the Texas Hemp Coalition, Owens says the group has been lobbying and even met with Abbott to discuss a veto of the bill. He divulges that there has been talk of an extension before it goes into law, and says that the coalition has been lobbying the legislature for years now to make THC purchases 21 and up, as well as recommending regulation of the market. The last-minute revisions in the House of Representatives resulted from numerous lobbying efforts, including those of the coalition, Owens says. Perry, the bill's author, and its staunchest supporter, Patrick, have roundly refused to meet with lobbyists, according to Owens. Eater reached out to Perry's office multiple times for a statement on the passage of SB3, and a representative in his Austin office confirmed that a statement did not exist. Abbott has not yet committed to signing the bill, but in a video that Patrick posted to Facebook about the bill before it passed, he lamented the lack of regulations on THC. He also alleged it is being sold to school children and is 'stronger than what you could buy from a drug dealer on the street,' and asserted that it cannot be regulated. Following the bill's passage, Patrick held a press conference in which he threw a bag of edibles at assembled media and chastised them for not taking the dangers of THC consumption seriously. He also asserted that it causes 'paranoia, schizophrenia, [or] tremendous health issues,' a claim that distorts medical research. In addition, Patrick provided data about the proliferation of smoke and vape shops in proximity to schools in the state. 'When it comes to [regulating] children and their access to products, alcohol and tobacco are legal and we regulate those,' Owens says. 'So you're trying to tell me we can't introduce regulation for something as simple as hemp? Of course we can.' Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cannabis and liquor retailers at odds over proposed rules on hemp-derived THC beverage sales
Hemp-derived THC seltzers seen on a shelf at Bottles Fine Wine on Providence's East Side. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) No one complained when state regulators quietly allowed hemp-derived THC beverages to be sold in Rhode Island's liquor stores late last summer. But now that state lawmakers are considering codifying the rules, the state's cannabis cultivators and retailers are speaking out, saying the liquor industry is circumventing stringent guidelines they've had to follow to get their psychoactive products to market A bill sponsored by Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski, a Cranston Democrat, would declare it legal for licensed distributors to sell beverages containing up to 5mg of delta-9 THC at liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. The bill would also increase the fee liquor wholesalers pay for the right to sell these products. Companion legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Robert Britto, an East Providence Democrat. 'The goal of my legislation is to get our arms around the sale of beverages that are already being sold,' Baginski said in an interview. 'For every good actor and retailer who goes out and goes through the trouble of requiring that license, there are potentially one or two who have not done that.'' Existing hemp rules allow the sale of delta-9 THC products such as gummies, lozenges, packaged baked goods, and beverages at licensed retailers. The state now has 120 hemp retailers and distributors, which include businesses headquartered in Colorado, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Connecticut last July mandated THC-infused drinks only be available at state-licensed liquor stores and cannabis retailers. Massachusetts regulators, meanwhile, declared last May that intoxicating hemp-based products cannot be sold outside of cannabis retail stores. Under Baginski's and Britto's bills, the annual fee paid by liquor wholesalers would increase from $500 to $1,500 to distribute delta-9 THC drinks under rules crafted by the state's Department of Business Regulation. Bars and restaurants would have to pay $250 a year. Rhode Island's seven cannabis dispensaries, meanwhile, pay a yearly $30,000 licensing fee to sell THC products. Those rules are based on regulations crafted by the state's Cannabis Control Commission. 'Why is one held to all this high regulation, while the other is not?' Magnus Thorsson, a professor at Johnson & Wales University's Cannabis Entrepreneurship Program, told Rhode Island Current. 'It's not fair and balanced.' Mike Simpson, co-founder of Lovewell farms in Hopkinton, said he's fine with liquor stores being allowed to sell hemp products in Rhode Island. He just wishes that hemp growers like himself had a say in the initial legislation. 'They completely left out the existing hemp industry, as if we don't exist,' Simpson said in an interview Thursday. 'This kind of not only feels superfluous, but also feels like they didn't actually engage with the industry — I hope they're open to hearing.' Baginski acknowledged that she has not met with hemp industry leaders but said she is always willing to connect with them. 'I don't claim to know everything, and I am happy to take all the feedback out there for me to absorb,' she said. Baginiski's bill received its initial hearing before the House Corporations Committee on April 8, where it was held for further study as is standard practice during a first vetting by a legislative panel. The state's liquor industry is backing the proposal. Why is one held to all this high regulation, while the other is not? It's not fair and balanced. – Magnus Thorsson, a professor at Johnson & Wales University's Cannabis Entrepreneurship Program Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative Executive Director Nicholas Fede Jr. said alcohol retailers are well-positioned to be part of the hemp-derived THC market. He told Rhode Island Current that store owners and staff are already trained to recognize the effects of intoxicating substances when interacting with customers. 'We have a long history of high product integrity,' Fede said. 'We are the gatekeepers for public safety.' Alex Nendza, director of marketing for Bottles Fine Wine on Providence's East Side, understands the sense of resentment coming from cannabis dispensaries and cultivators but said he believes having more retail outlets will help the industry grow. THC drinks already account for 10% of Bottles' revenue. 'It's difficult to keep them in stock at times,' Nendza said in an interview. 'Our shelves empty out pretty fast.' Hemp has been legal at the federal level since 2018. Hemp-derived THC drinks were technically illegal in Rhode Island — at least until last August when the state's Office of Cannabis Regulation began allowing the sale of products containing low levels of delta-9 THC at licensed retailers, which includes vape shops and liquor stores. Beverages derived from cannabis continue to only be sold at licensed cannabis retailers. Hemp by itself produces little to no THC content and is typically non-psychoactive when first harvested, unlike other cannabis plants. 'It's a molecule, and your body doesn't make any discretion at all to where it comes from,' Stuart Procter, co-founder and lab director for cannabis testing facility PureVita Labs in West Warwick, said The main difference is how the psychoactive compound is derived. Delta-9 is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid within cannabis plants. With hemp, it takes a little chemical magic to convert non-psychoactive CBD into THC. Methods include soaking the hemp material in a liquid like butane or ethanol, applying enough pressure and heat to extract THC compounds, or exposing the plant to acid. 'If all of the processes are done properly by chemists and people who know what they're doing, you probably end up with a nice safe product which is absolutely identical to the delta-9 taken from marijuana plants,' said Procter, who chairs the Cannabis Advisory Board's Public Health Subcommittee. But because hemp testing rules vary from state to state, Procter said safety isn't always guaranteed. 'There are very limited to no testing standards guiding hemp-related products,' he said. 'If you were to bring hemp into the same regulatory protocols that would make sense — if they want to play in the same market, they should abide by the same regulations.' During the bill's April 8 hearing, Baginski told lawmakers she was surprised to see hemp-based THC products available on the marketplace 'and largely sold unregulated.' 'The intent of this legislation is not to make any changes to the existing structure of sales of marijuana-based THC, but to create a new safe marketplace for hemp THC beverages.' But state regulators argue Baginski's proposal could conflict with existing cannabis rules. Cannabis Control Commission Chairperson Kimberly Ahern wrote to the committee that the existing bill would revoke several existing hemp licenses and contradicts the state's commitment to 'building a robust cannabis economy.' Hemp-derived THC products under Baginski's bill would not be subject to the same testing, labeling restrictions, and additional safety protocols required under existing rules and upcoming regulations required for recreational cannabis. 'The absence of clear requirements for psychoactive hemp-derived products increases the risk of accidental overconsumption and potential exposure to vulnerable populations, including youth,' Ahern warned. Ahern asked that the General Assembly hold the bill until regulators and industry leaders could discuss 'alignment with the state's broader cannabis and hemp regulatory strategy.' Baginski said she's open to making any necessary changes to the bill to ensure it aligns with existing regulations, adding that the goal of any legislation is to spark conversation and let the democratic process unfold. 'I do think it's worth having a conversation about who we're selling these things to and what exactly they are,' she told Rhode Island Current. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Where to find medical marijuana, THC products in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Is there anywhere in Baton Rouge that sells THC drinks? In January, a new law tightened Louisiana's hemp industry sales. Gas stations can no longer sell hemp products and only bars and restaurants with existing hemp permits can continue selling THC drinks. New Louisiana THC law set to go into effect in 2025. See changes for hemp drinks, edibles sold The maximum THC per serving also dropped from 8 mg to 5 mg. These THC-infused drink options can be bought at Total Wine and Spirits on Siegen Lane and select Rouses Markets. THC/CBD-infused drinks that are sold in stores in Baton Rouge 8th Wonder Cannabis THC Seltzer Calexo THC Cann Hi-Boy THC Crescent 9 THC Dayzed THC Driftee THC Flyers Cocktail Sparkling THC Happy Flower THC High Rise Delta-9 Seltzer Hop the Wave THC Tea Howdt THC Seltzer Lark THC Long Coast THC Louie Louie THC Make Em Say Uhh THC Seltzer Recreational marijuana is not legal in Louisiana. However, medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana for qualifying patients. Louisiana GOP lawmakers kill bill to decriminalize marijuana Where to find medical marijuana dispensaries near Baton Rouge Capitol Wellness Solutions (7941 Picardy Ave. in Baton Rouge) Cookies by Capitol Wellness Solutions (1940 O'Neal Lane in Baton Rouge) Willow Pharmacy (69090 Highway 190 Service Road in Covington) Green Leaf Dispensary (6048 West Park Ave. in Houma) N.O. Cannabis (100 W. Airline Highway in Kenner) H&W Drug Store (5055 Veterans Blvd in Metairie) N.O. Cannabis (1667 Tchoupitoulas St. Ste. B in New Orleans) Who qualifies for a medical marijuana card in Louisiana? How much do NFL Draft picks make? Best Hybrid SUVs for 2025 St. Helena Parish deputies investigate after inmate found dead in cell Where in the US will you be able to see the Lyrid meteor shower? Man accused of killing parents booked in Tangipahoa Parish jail Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
18-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Illinois' THC beverage boom may benefit from Trump's tariffs
As U.S. consumers continue to choose hemp-derived THC drinks over alcoholic alternatives, the Trump administration's tariffs may help the fledgling industry gain more footing in the marketplace. Why it matters: THC drinks have become big business in Chicago, with local breweries transitioning from craft beer. Driving the news: The Trump administration's tariffs on the European Union are expected to increase prices of imported wines, beer and hard liquor products. One of the goals is to force consumers back to American-made products, and THC-infused beverages are mainly produced domestically. Aluminum tariffs could impact THC drink prices, since most are canned beverages, but overall THC beverages could soon cost less than their beer or liquor counterparts. What they're saying:"Consumers have increasingly turned to THC beverages over wine and other alcohol and we're seeing a clear shift in preferences driven by wellness, social experience, and now, economic factors," the THC-beverage company Cann 's CEO Jake Bullock tells Axios. "With tariffs putting additional pressure on imported alcohol, we expect this trend to accelerate." The intrigue: There has been a local movement to ban hemp-derived THC, which most seltzers and sodas are made from, but these beverages have been carved out of pending state legislation. Zoom out: THC drinks could also get more exposure if nightclubs and bars are allowed to sell those products, which owners across the country are hoping will happen with patrons drinking less alcohol. In Illinois, that may have to wait for state regulation. By the numbers: Illinois doesn't break down THC-infused beverage sales in its cannabis revenue reports, since it is not regulated under the state. The state set a record with over $2 billion in sales of regulated cannabis products in 2024. Nationally, the THC-infused beverage market has grown over 1,000% since 2020. In 2023, hemp-derived THC drink sales hit $2.8 billion. Industry insiders expect that number to multiply 10 times by 2033. The bottom line: "Tariffs represent an opportunity for more mainstream consumers to experience cannabis-based alternatives to alcohol," Grownin's CEO Marcy Alspach tells Axios.
Axios
10-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Ban could end hemp business boom
Aaron Owens began growing hemp at his Dripping Springs ranch five years ago, after the Texas Legislature legalized its production. He now farms 5–10 acres of hemp each year and runs his own business, Tejas Tonic, selling THC-infused seltzer and gummies. Why it matters: The state's 2019 agricultural hemp law opened the door for hemp farming and the sale of products containing less than 0.3% of THC. Business took off for farmers like Owens and thousands of small business owners. Driving the news: But concerned about an unregulated market and THC products reaching children, some Republican lawmakers are now seeking to shut down the industry. Zoom in: Hundreds of hemp advocates, growers and business owners testified before a House committee this week, warning that the effort to restrict THC would make it difficult to distribute their products and remain afloat. The Senate has already passed a bill that would ban all forms of THC, a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The House's proposal, which was left pending in committee Monday, would impose age restrictions, ban synthetic cannabinoids and impose strict licensing requirements for the hemp industry. The measure would allow an exception for THC-infused drinks to be sold in liquor stores, but ban edibles and smokable products. What they're saying: Owens agrees that synthetic THC products "have to go," and that products should be required to have child-safe packaging and be restricted to those 21 and older. The House proposal would halt the sale of his gummies and bring his THC-infused beverages under the regulatory authority of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which Owens said would end his direct-to-consumer sales. "It would dramatically impact my business," Owens said. "Now my consumers would have to go to a place of alcohol to buy my non-alcoholic product? I don't really care for that. What if you're a recovering alcoholic?" But if the Senate's outright ban passes, "we're all just out of business," Owens added. By the numbers: A recent analysis from Whitney Economics and the Texas Hemp Business Council found that the state's hemp industry generates $5.5 billion in annual sales, with an estimated tax revenue of $268 million. Total employment in the state's hemp industry grew to 53,300 jobs this year, up from around 50,100 in 2023, the report found. "Texas' hemp industry is not only growing but also providing thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact," Cynthia Cabrera, chief strategy officer at Austin-based Hometown Hero and president of the business council, said in a statement, adding that proposed regulations "will devastate small businesses, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and strip billions from the Texas economy." What's next: As lawmakers consider how best to regulate the hemp industry, Owens and Jester King Brewery announced a new partnership Thursday to roll out hemp cocktails at the Hill Country brewery. The nonalcoholic hemp beverages, which contain 5mg each of CBD and THC, will be available in three flavors and debut in cans and on draft at the brewery during its April 19 Green Acres Hop Fest. Four-packs of the cans will also be available in select retail stores in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. The bottom line: Owens said he's prepared to adjust his business if lawmakers pass an outright ban, but it wouldn't be easy.
