Update: Buzzkill?
A federal ban that would kill THC drinks and other products is about 60 days away. There is a chance it could be delayed.
Baton Rouge businesses built on hemp-derived THC, including retailer Rad Dad and Indigo, which makes THC drinks, could be in serious trouble if a federal ban takes effect Dec. 11. The one thing to watch is the federal budget bill due that same day. Congress could use it to delay the ban again, or to write federal rules that regulate these products instead.
Why it matters: These products went from a loophole to a livelihood in a few short years. Now the federal government is about to bogart them.
The details:
- Congress tucked the ban into last November's bill that ended the government shutdown.
- It caps hemp products at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. That's low enough to clear most gummies, drinks, vapes off the shelves.
Who's pulling which way: The Trump administration urged Congress to soften the ban, and alcohol retailers want to continue selling THC drinks to offset a decline in alcohol sales. Many marijuana dispensaries and anti-drug groups want the ban to stand.
The bottom line: Nationwide, the ban could cost $28.3 billion in sales. Some of them are right here in Baton Rouge.
Additional reading:
Mukul Verma