A set of bills passed by the Georgia Senate and being considered by the Georgia House could further impact small businesses that sell hemp products.
Senate Bill 33, introduced by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, would add certain “intoxicating cannabinoids” to the current regulation of the sale of Delta-9, which is legally available at convenience stores and smoke shops with THC concentration below 0.3%.
SB 33 would add Delta-8, Delta-10, and Delta-11 to that cap as well as to the mandate for random state inspections of consumable hemp products, according to a report from Capitol Beat.
Senate Bill 254 was originally intended to limit the amount of THC (the ingredient that causes a person to feel high) in consumable hemp products, such as gummies, tinctures, and drinks.
However, an amendment on the Senate floor introduced a ban on the sale of all beverages containing THC. The measure passed with bipartisan support 42-14.
Joe Salome, co-founder of The Georgia Hemp Company, said the proposed new laws are designed to kill the hemp industry in Georgia.
“The laws are coming from old, out-of-touch politicians who want to tell us how to live,” Salome said. “Consumers have spoken. The patterns and trends are going toward non-alcoholic beverages, and THC-infused drinks have become the beverage of choice post-COVID. This is the way to relax without consuming alcohol.”
Georgia businesses that offer hemp products are already reeling from laws passed in 2024. Salome said he had to remove 50 percent of the products from his shelves last October, and he’d lose an additional 15 to 20 percent if the new bills become law.
Salome said the products Georgia is trying to ban are available just a click away on many websites, so it’s local hemp providers who will feel the effect as consumers look elsewhere for products.
Salome also said his thousands of clients will also suffer by having less access to products they use for anxiety, chronic pain and relaxation.
He encouraged consumers to contact their representatives or go to the State Capitol and make their feelings known.
SB 33 is expected to be discussed in the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee meeing on Wednesday, March 12, at 8 a.m.
