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A measure that didn’t make it out of the General Assembly would
allow the sale of hemp products, but only by businesses licensed
under the current cannabis law.
Industry experts said hemp drinks have been a lifeline for
struggling breweries still trying to recover from the pandemic.
Ray Stout, executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers
Guild, said those who want restrictions in place were not
forthcoming with their legislation.
“That they’re going after the bad actors and the delta-8 gas
station people but in essence they’re going after the entire
hemp industry,” said Stout.
Stout believes 10% of breweries are making hemp-derived
beverages, which is equal to about 30, and another 40 to 50 that
are in various stages of research and development.
While marijuana remains illegal under federal law, federal
lawmakers legalized hemp in 2018, defining it as cannabis or
cannabinoids with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
Stout said the legislature should create a regulatory framework
that allows hemp drinks to be manufactured and sold safely and
properly.
“The farm bill is pretty explicit in saying hemp should be
treated like hemp and marijuana should be treated like
marijuana,” said Stout. “These products are a derivative of
hemp, which the federal government said is different from
cannabis.”
Minnesota generated $1.5 million in tax revenue from over $15
million in sales from hemp-derived drinks just two months after
the state began regulating the industry in June 2022.
The bill’s sponsors and the governor expect the issue will come
up again during the next legislative session.
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