“All retailers selling intoxicating hemp products must be held to the same high safety standards as cannabis sellers.”
By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant
For a year, bars and restaurants in Rhode Island were able to obtain a license from the state’s former Office of Cannabis Regulation to sell THC-infused alcoholic beverages, despite state regulations that prohibit combining them with alcohol, tobacco or nicotine.
More than 100 licensed retailers obtained their licenses between August 2024 and July 2025, when the Cannabis Control Commission suspended issuing a new license to establishments that allow alcohol consumption on the premises “in the interest of public health and safety”.
Now, as regulators race to codify rules to match the market, the association representing the state’s hospitality industry is voicing strong opposition to a commission recommendation by lawmakers to codify a ban on selling THC beverages at liquor-licensed premises.
“They’re assuming we’re not going to follow the law,” Farouk Rajab, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, said in an interview Monday.
Rajab said he was disappointed that the commission recommends a ban in its latest report presented to the General Assembly on March 1. But he wasn’t surprised that cuts had yet to be made.
“I think decisions are made even before the listening sessions,” he said. “This is aimed at an industry, that’s all.”
11 page report details Rules governing hemp-derived beverages in Rhode Islandalong with recommendations on product labelling, testing and taxation.
Carla Aveledo, head of policy for the committee, said that no single industry was targeted.
“All retailers selling intoxicating hemp products must be held to the same high safety standards as those selling cannabis,” he said.
Hemp became legal at the federal level after the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, when the beverage hit the Rhode Island market as regulators were working on licensing rules for retail cannabis establishments. The rules allowing the sale of the beverage were adopted by the former Office of Cannabis Regulation in 2024, and the rules have since been adopted by the state Office of Cannabis.
But the proliferation of hemp-derived THC drinks has led to debate over whether they should be legal at all in Rhode Island. Members of the state’s recreational cannabis industry have opposed the possibility of selling THC products outside of the few existing pot shops.
That’s why last year the General Assembly tasked the Cannabis Control Commission with making recommendations to combat hemp-derived beverages, most of which are produced outside the state.
Rajab said the association had created “training modules that enable safe handling” of the drinks. The online course explains how receptors in the brain react to cannabis, onset times, and how to avoid THC overdose.
The association’s module also mandates catering staff to never serve THC beverages with alcohol.
“Mixing THC-infused drinks with alcohol can lead to unpredictable and dangerous situations,” he says. “As a server, it is your responsibility to discourage customers from consuming THC beverages alongside alcoholic beverages. Educate them about the risks and encourage safer consumption practices to ensure their well-being.”
Drinks are often sold in four-can packs at liquor stores. State regulations limit 1 milligram of THC per drink and no more than 5 milligrams of THC “per pack.”
Rajab said instead of banning restaurants from selling drinks, the state should codify rules to guide the hospitality industry. He pointed to Minnesota, which has allowed liquor stores, grocery stores and bars to sell liquor since 2023.
“It’s safe to serve there,” he said.
of the committee the report it also highlights how “low-potency edible hemp” is regulated in the 10,000 Lakes lands. In order for a Minnesota bar to serve hemp-derived products, it must obtain an on-site consumption endorsement, which is selected when filling out the license application.
But even Minnesota regulators admit there is a big question mark over whether they will continue to sell the drinks when federal restrictions governing the potency of hemp take effect in November.
“This threw the whole industry out of business across the nation,” Jim Walker, a spokesman for the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, told the Rhode Island Current. “If we get to November and there’s no safety net, we as an office would help eliminate a lot of these businesses.”
Congress is still considering legislation that would delay enforcement of the ban for two years allow the sale of THC-derived beverages.
Aveledo said the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission continues to monitor federal hemp policy and acknowledged that it could affect regulators’ plans to update the state’s hemp regulations.
“The commission intends to make updates to the hemp regulations in 2026,” he said. “However, recent federal activity and future actions are uncertain, which may delay regulatory writing until early 2027 to ensure our framework is fully informed and strategically aligned.”
This story was first published by the Rhode Island Currant.