It's not marijuana, but it can get you high.

Delta eight and nine are on the shelves of smoke and vape shops across Kentucky.

These hemp derivatives come in vapes, gummies and even drinks.

And since it's something you can drink.

Liquor distributors in Kentucky are asking lawmakers to regulate these infused beverages just like they would alcohol.

Our June Lefler has more in tonight's legislative update.

Delta eight and Delta nine fall under the purview of the state cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Two alcohol distributors and a hemp producer say the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board or ABC should monitor Delta drinks instead.

But these products are legal and what we're here to talk to you about is putting a little bit more regulation around these products because they are intoxicating and they don't fall under the umbrella of the ABC.

Part of the problem is there's part of the framework is built out to keep Kentuckians safe.

A lot of it is not.

So there's checks and balances on the front end, but there's not a lot of enforcement.

There's more of a registration process versus like a license when it comes to things like the age restrictions.

You know, we're all very big on that.

But it needs to be more than just, you know, written on the package itself.

Right.

That's important.

But we need to have safeguards.

We need to have enforcement.

So that's not actually happening.

A THC and CBD shop owner says this sounds like a money grab to keep these drinks only in liquor stores.

There's no reason that these drinks should be limited to liquor establishments and the reason being is the Cabinet has established regulations.

They have inspectors.

I've already had one come out to my establishment and there are rules and there are regulations in place by the cabinet.

The one thing that really bothers me about this, what about the people that actually don't drink alcohol?

I know.

I know.

That's kind of crazy to hear that in Kentucky.

But there are a lot of alcoholics and they don't actually drink alcohol.

So you're forcing them to to go into a liquor store to buy their cannabis products?

That's not right.

That's not what needs to happen.

Lawmakers have concerns other than where Delta products are being sold.

Delta nine, THC doesn't dissolve 100% solubility like alcohol does.

So it makes it a little more challenging to detect in a toxic of level.

So to speak, because there is a portion of this that is absorbed or is stored in fatty tissue.

So it does stay in your body, metabolite does stay in your body for for quite a long time, which which provides a little extra layer of complexity.

And when trying to assess impairment.

Even though state lawmakers passed regulations on Delta products in 2023, some say this is still uncharted territory.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.

Thank you, June.

U.S.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is asking Congress to increase the limit on THC and hemp from point 3% to 1%.