State orders THC drinks off shelves
Staff writer
Agreeing with concerns that led Marion police to seize 130 THC-infused drinks last month, Kansas Bureau of Investigation is giving retailers an unspecified amount of time to remove all such beverages, which the agency contends are illegal.
“Most, if not all, of these beverages are suspected to be illegal,” KBI communications director Melissa Underwood said. “They are only legal if they are hemp-derived and contain less than 0.3% THC. This is a very narrow category of beverages, and the burden is on the retailer to make certain the product is legal if it’s on their shelves.”
KBI’s decision, she said, is based on the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act, which limits THC concentration in non-marijuana products to not more than 0.3%.
“We communicated to the beverage wholesalers industry that these products were illegal and causing concern, and warned that enforcement action may be coming,” Underwood said.
She said she would not provide information about the timing or details of any enforcement action KBI might take but said whether to file charges for selling the drinks would be left to local prosecutors.
A week ago, representatives from the beverage wholesale industry, KBI director Tony Mattivi, and attorney general Kris Kobach met to discuss the legality of THC beverages.
Marion police took THC beverages from Carlsons’ Grocery two weeks ago in the belief the drinks were illegal, then returned the merchandise to the store six days later on the recommendation of County Attorney Michelle Brown.
Store co-owner Greg Carlson said Tuesday that the products continued to sell well.
Despite beverage wholesalers meeting with the attorney general and KBI officials, Carlson said he had heard nothing more from his distributor, City Beverage. City Beverage, which contends the products are legal.