By Benjie Cooper
IG: @nuglifenews
YouTube: Lucid’s Vlog
The ever-growing wave of cannabis legalization has continuously given way to new ideas, innovations, and novel methods of use and consumption. But sometimes, these ideas are met with resistance.
Considering the vast range of ingredients that alcohol is typically mixed with, marijuana-infused beer was an absolute inevitability with legalization. Cleverly-named, cannabis-infused, adult beverages of different varieties are already available at certain locations in legal states.
Some infused drinks only use cannabis oils for flavor and aroma and contain no THC, while others like Blue Moon subsidiary Ceria Beverages’ upcoming hybrid beer don’t actually have any alcohol.
But not everyone is happy with these types of cocktails.
On May 1, Michigan Senator Rick Jones [R] introduced SB969, a preemptive bill to amend the state’s liquor control code of 1998 to ban the sale, possession, and use of cannabis-infused alcohol.
Residents voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2008 though recreational use is still not legal.
But Michigan could legalize marijuana this Fall. In April, the Board of State Canvassers approved a voter initiative for the November ballot that would allow recreational cannabis into the state.
“Bar owners and bartenders have said that this would be a recipe for disaster,” said Jones in a press release regarding his new measure. “They have enough trouble judging intoxication levels now without adding the element of marijuana—especially when you consider that marijuana-infused foods can take an hour to kick in.”
Michigan is also a zero-tolerance state for THC, so anyone who might potentially consume cannabis-infused drinks would not be able to drive home legally.
The measure, which would not apply to state institutions, private universities, hospitals, or companies conducting research, has been referred to the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee. SB969 will need to pass the Senate, House, and gain Governor Rick Snyder’s signature to become state law.
UPDATE:
As of May 10, the Committee on Regulatory Regorm has unanimously voted to pass SB969. The bill is now headed to the Senate for consideration.
