Senate Bill 223 would put cannabis-infused drinks in a category similar to alcohol, limiting the beverages to those 21 and up, prohibiting open containers in some settings, and placing regulation under the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC.
Jim Higdon, co-founder of Cornbread Hemp, testified in favor of the bill, saying it creates an acceptable framework for businesses.
"We support testing requirements, labeling standards, age restrictions, and reasonable taxation because responsible regulation in products demand these sorts of reasonable restrictions and guardrails to prevent bad actors from proliferating," he said.
Jack Mazurack with the Kentucky Distillers' Association, however, urged caution.
"This bill would greatly expand access to THC intoxicating beverages in Kentucky, even though the industry still lacks a sufficient federal regulatory framework," he said.
If passed, Senate Bill 223 would not be the first such bill. Other states, including California and Minnesota, have set similar frameworks for THC-infused beverages as they await potential action on the federal level.