Michigan Lawmakers Explore Regulating Hemp-Infused THC Drinks For New Tax Revenue Source
The proposed legislation is still a work in progress
The Michigan House is exploring the development of state rules for hemp-infused beverages that would allow the drinks to be sold at liquor shops, bars and grocery stores.
Currently, Michigan residents can buy hemp-containing THC beverages online from out-of-state providers or marijuana-infused THC beverages through a few in-state producers who sell exclusively at licensed marijuana retail stores. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive component found in cannabis that gives users a high.
But a Republican House lawmaker is eyeing legislation that would route the hemp-derived drinks largely through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, making them available to a wider swath of customers at grocery and liquor stores. The regulatory framework is also likely to generate additional tax revenue for the state after lawmakers decide on a taxation structure for the drinks.
The proposed legislation is still a work in progress, and lawmakers are currently gathering input from stakeholders or interested parties on the first bill drafts, said state Rep. Joe Aragona, R-Clinton Township. But it is a market, he said, that needs to be addressed.
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