A bill in Delaware that aimed to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp products and limit cannabis-infused beverages to liquor stores has been pulled by its sponsor, State Rep. Debra Heffernan (D), WHYY News reports.
The legislation would have required hemp-derived intoxicants to be sold only at state-licensed cannabis dispensaries and allowed cannabis beverages exclusively in liquor stores. Heffernan said she withdrew the bill following significant feedback from CBD store owners, consumers, and advocacy groups.
“While I still believe in the importance of increasing safety testing and ensuring age verification for cannabinoid intoxicating products,” Heffernan said in a statement, “I believe that further and wider conversations need to be had with business owners in this area and our new marijuana commissioner.”
Delaware’s Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin expressed concern about the lack of regulation for hemp products made outside the state. He said dispensaries should carry cannabis-infused beverages if they’re produced in Delaware and emphasized the need for testing standards as a top regulatory priority.
Jena Murray, president of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and a Delaware resident, credited a strong email campaign and media pressure for the bill’s withdrawal. She noted that the industry is eager to collaborate on a more comprehensive proposal that prioritizes both consumer safety and business viability.
Heffernan said a new version of the bill will be drafted “in the coming months” and considered in the next legislative session.
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