While the sale of THC-infused drinks has been significantly restricted in Ohio, you can still buy them in Kentucky. That’s a short drive for most people in Greater Cincinnati.
Under the new law, bringing Kentucky’s cannabis into the Buckeye State is illegal, but there’s nothing to stop you from consuming it there.
“We’ve got one of the largest selections around,” said Kevin Schmits, assistant general manager of The Party Source in Bellevue. He welcomed any Ohioans now wondering where to purchase drinks infused with THC − the intoxicating chemical in cannabis.
Drinks with 5 milligrams of THC per 12 ounces can be sold by licensed retailers in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Kentucky stopped the sale of more potent drinks on June 1.
“It’s treated just like alcohol,” Schmits said.
You must be at least 21 to purchase cannabis-infused beverages in Kentucky. It is illegal for anyone younger to buy, drink or possess THC drinks in Kentucky.
Out-of-state THC is contraband
The new law only allows marijuana possession and use when the marijuana has been either acquired by a dispensary or grown at an adult’s primary residence, according to an Ohio bill analysis.
Under the old law, “an adult-use consumer was able to legally possess and use marijuana acquired from an out-of-state dispensary,” the report states.
Bringing THC drinks across the Ohio River would be illegal.
It remains to be seen how these provisions will be enforced.
It is not clear whether consuming or possessing cannabis-infused beverages previously purchased outside of a dispensary is now illegal. Emails and a voicemail sent to Ohio Senator Stephen Huffman’s office, who was the main sponsor of the bill, weren’t immediately returned.
When were THC drinks restricted in Ohio?
The changes to Ohio’s recreational marijuana law took effect March 20.
It bans the sale of THC beverages at bars and breweries in the state. Cannabis-infused beverages can still be bought at dispensaries in Ohio.
Ohio lawmakers first carved out a grace period for THC beverages that would have allowed bars, breweries and retailers to sell them through the end of 2026, but Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed that part of the law.
A lawsuit filed on March 17 argues that DeWine overstepped by vetoing part of the law that would have allowed breweries, bars and grocery stores to sell THC beverages through 2026.
Separetly, two Cincinnati breweries asked the Ohio Supreme Court to throw out the ban on THC-infused beverages. That legal challenge is pending.
Jessie Balmert and Haley BeMiller contributed to this reporting.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: You can buy THC drinks in Kentucky, but you can’t bring them to Ohio
Reporting by Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
