A bill filed at the capitol last week would legalize drinks that contain Delta-9 THC made from industrial hemp.
Delta-9 THC is a mind-altering substance found in cannabis plants. It is the primary psychoactive substance in marijuana.
In 2018 congress passed legislation permitting industrial hemp in America — which is defined as cannabis plants that are supposed to be low in THC. However, a loophole in the federal law has let manufacturers extract as much THC as possible out of industrial hemp and infuse it into products such as gummies, candies, and other edibles.
Last year officials in Minnesota issued a public health warning about “high-dose hemp-derived products” containing “hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving.”
H.B. 1578 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would legalize intoxicating drinks made from hemp containing Delta-9 THC.
The bill treats hemp-derived drinks similarly to alcohol, allowing them to be manufactured, distributed, and sold in Arkansas.
The bill sets age restrictions, licensing requirements, and manufacturing guidelines for these drinks, but it does not clearly restrict the amount of THC a hemp-derived drink could contain. That raises serious public health and safety concerns about the measure.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
