News Releases are provided by the LRC Public Information Office. All photos are attributed to LRC Staff. Senate approves cannabis-infused beverages bill March 7, 2025 Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, speaks in the Senate chamber Friday about Senate Bill 202, an act related to cannabis-infused beverages. A high-resolution photo can be found here. FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers say cannabis-infused beverages – sometimes known as “weed water” – have been on their radar since last September. On Friday, the Senate advanced a bill that would seek to regulate the products. Senate Bill 202 calls for cannabis-infused beverages to fall under the authority of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the purposes of licensing, distribution, and retail sales. The bill proposes using a three-tier system similar to the one for alcohol. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, said there has been proliferation of the products at gas stations, liquor stores and vape shops recently. “These cannabis-infused beverages are the result of a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill that reauthorized the growing of hemp in our country. It didn’t take long for someone to quickly figure out you can extract the THC and that’s the delta-9 and put it in a whole host of products,” she said. The Senate advanced the bill with a 29-6 vote, and it now heads to the House. The legislation spells out what qualifies as a “cannabis-infused” beverage. According to the bill, it is a properly permitted, adult-use cannabinoid liquid intended for human consumption that has intoxicating properties that change the function of the nervous system and result in alterations of perception, cognition or behavior. SB 202 would limit the level of intoxicating cannabinoids in the drinks to 5 milligrams. Adams said one manufacturer states on the company’s website that a 10-milligram beverage… Continue Reading