A sudden legislative move to ban THC-infused beverages in Georgia has sent ripples through the state’s hemp industry, leaving business owners scrambling for answers. The proposed ban, which emerged unexpectedly during a key legislative session, has sparked intense debate over consumer rights, business interests, and public safety.
A Last-Minute Shock on Crossover Day
Georgia’s hemp industry was blindsided when State Senator Randy Robertson proposed a sweeping amendment to an existing bill, calling for an outright ban on THC beverages. The amendment was tacked onto a measure already aimed at lowering THC limits, but Robertson took it a step further, advocating for complete prohibition. His argument? Public safety and protecting children.
The bill’s original sponsor, State Senator Bill Cowsert, had been pushing for a reduction in THC content, claiming that a single 10-milligram THC drink is equivalent to consuming four beers or four shots of liquor. But Robertson’s unexpected amendment raised the stakes.
“It’s not about those of us in this room, it’s about our children, it’s about my five granddaughters,” Robertson said. “Think of the world they’re coming into while we are making these fast decisions about something that we have limited studies on.”
With Cowsert absent from the floor when the amendment was introduced, the measure passed with a 42-14 vote, leaving the hemp industry stunned.
Business Owners Cry Foul
For entrepreneurs like Omari Anderson, the amendment felt like a direct attack on their livelihoods. Anderson, who founded The Best Dirty Lemonade—an infused beverage inspired by his late mother’s lemonade recipe—expressed frustration over the lack of warning.
“It felt like a slap in the face,” he said. “It almost felt un-American.”
Anderson’s mother passed away in 2019 after battling Alzheimer’s, and he says the THC-infused drink was one of the few things that helped her eat and sleep. Now, his entire business is on the line.
“We’re doing our best to follow the rules, but it seems like every time we do, they just move the goalpost,” he added. Last October, Anderson invested $300,000 into his company. If the ban is enacted, he fears he may never recover.
Industry at a Crossroads
Georgia’s hemp industry has expanded significantly since the state legalized low-THC hemp products. According to the Department of Agriculture, there are more than 4,100 licensed hemp businesses across Georgia. Most of them operate as retailers, like Hemp Haven in Decatur, where owner Diana Padron has built a customer base reliant on these products.
Padron, who sells The Best Dirty Lemonade, believes the proposed ban is both excessive and unfair. She points to existing regulations that require customers to be at least 21 years old and present an ID to purchase THC products.
“They’ve already changed the laws,” she said. “You can’t purchase any of these products without showing ID. You can’t even get through the door without being 21.”
Padron and others in the industry argue that lawmakers are unfairly targeting hemp while ignoring larger public health concerns surrounding alcohol and tobacco.
“I know people who buy a 12-pack of beer and finish it in one night,” she said. “I know ladies who go through an entire bottle of wine, sometimes two if they’re with friends. Adults should have the freedom to choose what they put in their bodies.”
What Happens Next?
While the amendment has cleared the Senate hurdle, the bill must still pass the Georgia House of Representatives before it can be signed into law. With business owners and consumers rallying against the ban, the fight is far from over.
For now, the future of THC beverages in Georgia remains uncertain. Entrepreneurs like Anderson and Padron are left holding their breath, hoping that lawmakers will reconsider before it’s too late.
