THC drinks

A federal ban taking effect at the end of the year threatens to shut down the fast-growing market for hemp-derived THC beverages. NPR reports the industry faces a countdown as producers and consumers await clarity on enforcement. The drinks, sold legally in many states under hemp rules, could be reclassified, disrupting businesses and sales nationwide.

US Congress has postponed a planned ban on hemp-derived THC products, pushing the deadline to December 11, according to Fortune. The delay affects a wide industry of hemp-based consumables that became widely available after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp. Industry groups and consumers are watching closely, as the coming vote could remove many THC drinks and edibles from the market or prompt new federal regulation.

An Ohio court has narrowed an injunction, halting a Cincinnati brewery from selling THC-infused beverages. The ruling limits the brewery's ability to offer hemp-derived drinks while litigation over the state's authority to regulate them continues. The case touches on the wider clash between Ohio's alcohol and cannabis regulators over who controls THC beverages.

NACS, the association for convenience retailers, is promoting an upcoming education session examining where THC-infused products, likely hemp-derived beverages, fit in store cold vaults alongside beer and other chilled drinks. The preview signals growing retailer interest in how cannabidiol and THC drinks should be merchandised, regulated and sold as the category expands across US stores.