Latest news with #THCdrinks
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These THC-infused drinks face little oversight in the US. Maine is scrambling to regulate sales.
Jun. 14—Three years ago, Mercedes Lamphere was selling drinks infused with THC from the back of her truck. Today, those intoxicating, yet alcohol-free beverages can be found in 850 locations across 10 states. Lamphere's company, the Farmington-based Long Coast, is part of a rapidly expanding market of drinks containing low doses of the psychoactive compound that gets cannabis users high. Except the compound in these drinks, called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), comes from a weaker form of the plant known as hemp. Marketed in fun, fruity, cocktail-inspired flavors, the drinks are popping up in convenience store coolers and on menus in breweries and bars. These fully legal, barely regulated beverages are permitted by a loophole in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill that classified hemp as any cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dried weight — and legalized cultivating and selling it. Anything over 0.3% is considered marijuana, which is still federally illegal. That loophole gave companies more than enough wiggle room to get creative. "The customer wants what it wants and will find a way to get it," said Eben Sumner, CEO of Casco Bay Hemp. "Show me when prohibition has ever worked in history." CNN reported that the U.S. market for hemp-derived THC drinks amounted to about $400,000 in 2020, according to a report from Brightfield Group, a market research firm. By 2024, that increased to $382 million. It's expected to grow to $571 million this year. But the quickly growing market has some cannabis business owners crying foul. They say shops and breweries are selling, essentially, the same product they are — yet dealing with none of the red tape. Meanwhile, recreational cannabis retailers face high taxes and costly requirements to track and test the products for contaminants. They are also not allowed to let customers consume the marijuana on-site. But the drinks present an additional revenue stream, if not a possible lifeline, to the struggling brewing industry. They also make the THC-induced high more accessible for people who may not feel comfortable going into a cannabis store. In the absence of clearly defined rules, many businesses have been imposing their own restrictions on the drinks. Across the board, businesses interviewed instituted a 21-plus age-gate on the beverages. Long Coast and Mystic Cove, a brand from Sebago Brewing Company, include certificates of analysis, or batch test results, on their websites. At Bow Street Beverage, the drinks are kept in their own cooler, separate from alcoholic beverages, with clear signs saying that the drinks contain THC. At Three Dollar Deweys in Portland and Saltwater Grille in South Portland, customers are limited to two drinks and cannot mix them with alcohol, according to owner Jill Moses. "We're happy to work with people on regulation, but as of now there's none," said Peter Bissell, co-owner of Bissell Brothers Brewing. CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE Federal officials are working to close the so-called hemp loophole. The "Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill" would ban hemp-derived THC products outright at the federal level. In the meantime, Maine is among several states scrambling to institute regulations to get a handle on the industry before it grows further. States like Minnesota and Massachusetts have passed laws clarifying that hemp-derived THC is legal for anyone over the age of 21. Texas, meanwhile, just passed a blanket THC ban, though it's unclear if the governor will sign off on it. In Maine, the Committee on Taxation and the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee carried over two bills, one to impose a 20% tax on hemp and hemp products containing THC while lowering taxes for the recreational cannabis industry and another — proposed by the governor's office — to move intoxicating-hemp regulations under the Office of Cannabis Policy. In the meantime, lawmakers this week passed an emergency bill to limit the sale of these products to people at least 21 years old, and to require they be sold in child-proof packaging that could not be confused with another non-intoxicating brand. Because the bill has an emergency clause, it will go into effect immediately. The bill received broad support from the hospitality industry and public health advocates alike. Nate Cloutier, director of government affairs for Hospitality Maine, the industry trade association, said THC-infused beverages have become part of the food and beverage landscape and that a 21-year-old age gate makes sense. "We understand this won't be the right fit for every restaurant," he said in written testimony. "But for some, it's a welcome opportunity. In an industry with average margins of 2-5%, being able to offer a unique product that aligns with customer interest is a meaningful way to increase traffic and support the bottom line." But others, including some in the cannabis industry, argued that the bill doesn't go far enough. "In recent years, Maine and other states have been increasingly inundated with (intoxicating hemp-derived products) that are unregulated, untested, untracked and easily accessible by minors," said Gabi Pierce, policy director of the Office of Cannabis Policy. "These products have become widely available at non-cannabis retailers and marketed for their intoxicating THC properties, yet they lack all the safeguards in place for similar adult use cannabis products." Pierce said age and labeling requirements are "not enough to address the real public health and safety threat" in front of them and urged the committee to reject the bill in favor of the one proposed by the governor's office. Mark Gallagher, representing the Cannabis Association of Maine, suggested a moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived THC-infused products while the Legislature works to develop regulations, which he argued should mirror those for the cannabis industry, as the two products are nearly identical. It's this point that rankles Kaspar Heinrici, CEO of SeaWeed, a recreational store with locations in South Portland and Portland. "They've created this arbitrary definition of hemp, but it's all the cannabis plant," he said. He stopped short of saying which department should regulate the industry, but that there needs to be consistency. "Otherwise you end up with two markets for the same product with very different rules," he said. And if that happens, "there'll be no reason for us to exist." 'NONSENSE' REGULATIONS Sumner, who worked on the legislation, said the bill was never meant to be the be-all-end-all for hemp regulations. "It made sense to us to get that out quickly to protect kids from buying this stuff and protect the people that are selling it," he said. The bill was also kept bare-bones to keep it from requiring a fiscal note, which in a tight budget season, could have killed it. Sumner agreed that there needs to be stronger regulations on hemp, but said the Office of Cannabis Policy currently has too much on its plate to regulate cannabis effectively, let alone hemp. The office is also trying to institute stronger rules, including mandatory testing and seed-to-sale tracking, for the medical cannabis market. Mark Barnett, policy director for the Maine Craft Cannabis Association, said the evolving policy environment presents an opportunity for the industry to have a conversation about how cannabis is regulated. "Legal intoxicating hemp has shown us that our legal (recreational) marijuana is nonsense," he said. "The lesson we need to take is that the heavy regulation is wrong and that the overbearing system we have makes no sense. ... We've seen what it looks like to have no regulations and still not have one single (documented) case of someone dying from these products." Barnett is also the owner of Higher Grounds, a recreational cannabis store and coffee shop in Portland where customers can opt to add an infusion of hemp-derived THC or CBD to their coffee. He has a foot in both markets and believes there's room for both. "The value to me is that the highly regulated programs do offer, by and large ... far higher quality products. You're allowed to use the whole plant, (so it) doesn't have the same limitations of dry weight at harvest that hemp does." MOVING AWAY FROM ALCOHOL Beverage producers are also leery of the program being moved under the Office of Cannabis Policy. For many, especially the brewers, it would mean shuttering the whole enterprise — in Maine statute, alcohol and cannabis operations can't mix. Instead, they argue the drinks should be regulated under the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations. "The fear is we'll be legislated so we can't be doing this anymore," said Kai Adams, co-founder of Sebago Brewing Company. "It should be taxed like beer if it's a drink." Sebago in February launched Mystic Cove, its own brand of hemp-derived THC-infused seltzers, with flavors like blueberry lemon drop and mango sunrise. The Gorham-based brewery started exploring THC beverages after requests from customers and the need to diversify. "I'm a beer guy, I've been a beer guy for 30 years," Adams said. "(But) it's a changing market." For the first time since 2005, the Brewers Association this year found that the number of craft brewery closings nationwide outpaced openings. The percentage of Americans who regularly consume beer, liquor or wine dropped from 67% in 2022 to 58% in 2024, according to a Gallup Survey. Young adults ages 18-34 are the cohort that most embraces the "sober-curious" movement and when they do drink, there's an emphasis on lower-calorie, fruitier options. For some breweries, that has meant expanding their lineups to include more seltzers, canned cocktails and nonalcoholic options — including those with THC. Bissell Brothers released its version, Bissell Buds, May 30. The drink has a light, citrusy hoppy flavor, Peter Bissell said. The release followed hard seltzers and teas, all of which had been in development for the better part of a year. "It was time to diversify. We needed to broaden our horizons," he said. So far, the numbers have been strong. Right now, many companies are still in the trial phase, but Adams expects a "deluge" of brands, especially coming from breweries as more people are embracing cannabis use. A 2024 study found that more Americans report daily cannabis use than daily drinking. Cameron Graham, marketing and events coordinator for Bow Street Beverage, said the drinks have been particularly popular among baby boomers, many of whom are "ecstatic" and buy them "by the case." Between the Portland and Wells locations, the store offers more than 30 brands and flavors of THC-infused drinks. "I see lots of older folks and people who have historically been a little uncomfortable with marijuana in general," he said. "I find that they don't want to be going into specialty stores like dispensaries." Copy the Story Link
CNET
12-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
THC Drinks vs. Alcohol: We Ask an Expert Which Is Healthier
Editor's note This article is for informational purposes only and doesn't constitute medical advice. Readers should talk to their doctor before trying THC products, especially if they're taking certain medications or have underlying health conditions. During a recent trip to Total Wine, I was surprised to see an entire aisle filled with THC-infused drinks instead of just a shelf or two. Nowadays, you can find cannabis beverages everywhere and even at your local brewery. "There's no shortage of options," says Dr. Staci Gruber, director of the MIND Program at McLean Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "We just need to do a better job explaining what they are and what they aren't." As sobriety and the sober curious movement become increasingly popular amid concerns about the health impacts of alcohol, you may be tempted to swap your alcoholic or even nonalcoholic drink for one infused with THC. But is it actually healthier for you? What are THC drinks? PortlandTHC beverages are infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a high and intoxication. These drinks come in a variety of forms, such as zero-calorie seltzers and tropical lemonades. They're often marketed as a way to get a buzz without the booze. Some contain only THC, while others blend in cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-intoxicating compound, to help balance the effects. THC beverages vs alcohol Alcohol -- specifically ethanol -- is a single molecule, not a mixture of many. After you learn your alcohol drinking habits, you typically know more about your limits. However, other ingredients like sugar and additives can impact your intoxication and hangovers. Also, they vary by person. While I might be buzzed after three alcoholic seltzers, my friend needs only one to feel the same way. San Francisco Chronicle/THC drinks are different. They come in many strengths and combinations so predicting and standardizing the effects is harder. "Cannabis is not one thing," says Gruber. "A product that has equal amounts of THC and CBD is not likely to have the same impact as a product that has 15 milligrams of THC alone." Your body also processes THC differently. Alcohol goes into your bloodstream quickly through your stomach. THC takes longer to absorb. Once it reaches your liver, it becomes another compound that can feel even stronger. "You may feel more high as time marches on. It's the gift that keeps on giving," says Gruber. Plus, once it's in your system, you can't get rid of it like you can with alcohol. "You can always take more but you can never take less. Once it's in, you can't throw it up or sweat it out," Gruber says. "You're stuck on the ride until it ends." That's why she advises you to start low and go slow if you decide to try out cannabis drinks. Are they legal? It can depend on where you live but most THC drinks you find in stores or online are made from hemp, not marijuana. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products (such as products with Delta-8 THC, created through a chemical conversion of CBD) are legal at the federal level if they contain no more than 0.3% of THC. With this rule, cannabis drinks can be sold in states where marijuana is still illegal. "That's how you can walk into a Total Wine and buy these off the shelf," says Gruber. "It's not part of the Controlled Substances Act." However, that doesn't mean they're available everywhere. Each state may have limits on how much THC a drink can contain or where it can be sold. "Each state has varying regulations regarding cannabis-infused drinks," says Dr. Doug Roehler, an epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. There's no consistent national framework like there is with alcohol. For example, Georgia is tightening restrictions on consumable hemp products. House Bill 265 proposes limiting THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids to 5 mg per serving. Meanwhile, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in California banned hemp product sales in the same places as alcoholic beverages. Not enough research on THC andEven though THC and CBD drinks are gaining popularity, the science behind them is still catching up. While alcohol has been studied for decades, there's limited data on the long-term health effects of cannabis drinks. Unlike medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, THC drinks are not evaluated for safety, effectiveness or consistency before hitting the market. "I think we'll have to stay tuned for the next decade or so to see what we can glean from these products," says Gruber. Part of the challenge is how THC beverages can vary in potency, cannabinoid content and added ingredients, like sugar. Until more research is available, experts recommend using caution, starting with low doses and waiting an hour or two before having a second cannabis drink. Potential health benefits of CBD and THCEven though we don't know the exact health effects of THC drinks, some parts of cannabis have been studied for medical use. A 2017 study from the National Library of Medicine found evidence that cannabis can help with chronic pain, muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis and nausea caused by chemotherapy. These findings are based on cannabis in general rather than beverages specifically but they show that certain cannabinoids may offer real benefits. Many people reach for THC drinks as a way to cut back on alcohol. "Some people decide that they would like to drink less because we know there are significant health concerns with people who drink too much," Gruber says. "The Surgeon General's recent note on the association between alcohol use and cancer lit a fire under lots of people to not drink." The Surgeon General's advisory linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of seven types of cancer, including mouth, breast, liver and colon cancer. While the long-term effects of THC drinks are still unknown, the health risks of alcohol are well-researched. Other nonalcoholic alternatives "Mocktail" no longer means fruit juice or soda. Instead, bartenders at sober bars (and regular bars that have a dedicated nonalcoholic menu) put as much creative intention into mocktails as they do cocktails. Getty Images THC drinks aren't the only option to turn to. You can find several other drinks to help you unwind and feel a little something special without the buzz or the high. Here are a few options to consider: Adaptogen drinks: These drinks use herbs and natural compounds (like ashwagandha, rhodiola or reishi mushrooms) that may help your body manage stress and support mental clarity. Some popular brands include Kin Euphorics, Hiyo and Recess. These drinks use herbs and natural compounds (like ashwagandha, rhodiola or reishi mushrooms) that may help your body manage stress and support mental clarity. Some popular brands include Kin Euphorics, Hiyo and Recess. Mocktails: These are nonalcoholic cocktails designed to mimic the flavor and experience of traditional mixed drinks. They sometimes include functional ingredients for added benefits or use nonalcoholic spirits. These are nonalcoholic cocktails designed to mimic the flavor and experience of traditional mixed drinks. They sometimes include functional ingredients for added benefits or use nonalcoholic spirits. Nonalcoholic dupes: These are drinks that look and taste like alcoholic beverages but without the alcohol. Companies such as Athletic Brewing, Corona and Samuel Adams offer the same flavor and feel as the original but without the same negative effects. These are drinks that look and taste like alcoholic beverages but without the alcohol. Companies such as Athletic Brewing, Corona and Samuel Adams offer the same flavor and feel as the original but without the same negative effects. Functional sparkling water: These drinks add ingredients like magnesium, electrolytes or calming botanicals to sparkling water to help ease stress and improve focus. Some popular brands include Good Idea and Soulboost. The bottom line THC drinks are becoming a popular alternative to alcohol. They're showing up in liquor stores, bars and even breweries. While some people say these drinks help them relax without a hangover, experts say we still don't know enough about their long-term health effects. "If you're interested in checking out THC-infused beverages, you should be mindful of what you're buying and using," says Gruber. "Start with a small amount and give yourself time to see how it affects you." The CDC also recommends knowing how much THC is in the drink and not driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery after having a glass. When considering a THC drink, read the label, start slow and wait before going in for seconds. If cannabis beverages don't feel like the right fit, there are plenty of other nonalcoholic options to help you unwind without the effects of alcohol or THC.
