March 10, 2025
Kentucky lawmakers won’t ban beverages with intoxicating amounts of hemp-derived THC – at least not yet.
For now, the Bluegrass State will attempt to regulate and to study the increasingly popular products, while also imposing some limits, according to legislation that advanced Monday.
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Cannabinoids derived from hemp are currently the only legal THC access in Kentucky, where a medical-marijuana program is set to launch Jan. 1, 2026.
Last week, Republican state Sen. Julie Raque Adams introduced SB 202, which would have slapped a temporary ban on hemp beverages until summer 2026, pending study of the products.
That alarmed critics in Kentucky’s nascent hemp industry, which Gov. Andy Beshear is supporting with tax-incentive programs, as a recent official release noted.
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Bill modifications approved Monday will instead
Regulate the beverages in a manner similar to alcohol
Limit the amount of hemp-derived THC per beverage to 5 milligrams of THC
Direct the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center to study the products and report findings by Jan. 1, 2026
Require state agencies to pursue further regulation
The legislation still needs to pass the state House and receive Beshear’s signature before it becomes law.
Hemp drinks are increasingly popular with consumers across the country, particularly in jurisdictions where legal cannabis is unavailable – like Kentucky.
Major marijuana multistate operators like Curaleaf Holdings have embraced the products, which are available at mainstream retailers.
However, some states have taken drastic action against hemp-derived THC, which many legal cannabis operators view as a threat to their business.
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