SB 223 Advances: Could THC Drinks Soon Be Served in Kentucky Bars and Restaurants?

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Kentucky lawmakers are moving forward with Senate Bill 223 (SB 223), a proposal that could change where and how marijuana‑infused drinks are served in the state. SB 223 refers to hemp‑derived THC drinks (produced under the 2018 Farm Bill), which are not part of the regulated medical marijuana program. 

Currently, through the medical program, marijuana drinks are not yet available at dispensaries in Kentucky. Only marijuana flower and gummies can be purchased for now, but other product types will be available very soon. Once more, cultivators and processors produce these products, drinks with a higher percentage of THC, along with other marijuana products, will become available. 

SB 223 specifically addresses the low-THC, hemp-derived drinks that are already legal in the state, creating a framework for licensed bars, restaurants, festivals, and events to serve them safely and responsibly, with clear rules on THC limits, age restrictions, and open-container regulations.

What the Bill Would Do

If SB 223 becomes law, it would:

• Allow bars, restaurants, festivals, and catered events to sell low-dose THC‑infused drinks, similar to alcoholic beverages.

• Place low THC marijuana drinks under the same type of regulation as alcohol, with oversight from the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

• Set a THC limit of 5 mg per serving, keeping the drinks low‑dose and controlled.

• Require buyers to be 21 or older, the same age rule as for alcohol.

• Apply open-container rules to marijuana drinks, meaning the same laws that govern where you can carry an alcoholic beverage would apply.

Low-THC or hemp-derived drinks have appeared in some retail stores under the 2018 Farm Bill, but SB 223 would create a framework for selling these low-THC-infused drinks in bars, restaurants, festivals, and events, treating them similarly to alcohol.

Why This Matters

Supporters say the bill creates a clear and responsible framework for low-THC marijuana drinks. By creating clear rules for serving marijuana drinks, SB 223 would let bars and restaurants expand their offerings while ensuring customers can enjoy them safely and responsibly.

Some advocates also point out that this approach makes marijuana drinks familiar and accessible, using rules that both patrons and servers already understand from alcohol service.

What Happens Next

SB 223 has passed out of committee and is now moving to the full Senate for further consideration. If passed, it would modernize Kentucky’s low THC drink laws and create a path for these products to be sold at bars, restaurants, festivals, and catered events.

Final Thoughts

SB 223 is a significant step for Kentucky’s low-THC drink market. The bill sets up clear rules for serving low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages in bars, restaurants, and events. These drinks are already available in some stores under federal hemp rules, but SB 223 ensures that as these low-THC drinks move into social venues, they can be enjoyed safely and responsibly, giving adults more ways to access them.

Kentucky’s medical marijuana program covers higher-THC products that require a medical marijuana card to purchase. Patients with a qualifying condition can work with a licensed provider to get evaluated and, if approved, submit an application to the state to obtain a card, which allows them to buy regulated marijuana products from dispensaries. These products are not the same as the low-THC drinks addressed by SB 223, and they are carefully regulated through the medical program, including higher THC limits, dispensary-only sales, and medical oversight.

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