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Earlier this year, Kentucky took a decisive step to address an issue that South Carolina can no longer afford to ignore. Hemp-infused drinks — previously sold in bars, convenience stores, and grocery aisles — are now regulated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) board in Kentucky. They may only be sold in licensed liquor stores, and only to adults over 21.
These products are marketed like soft drinks or energy drinks, but they contain intoxicating compounds that can impair judgment, coordination, and decision-making. They masquerade as harmless “alternatives,” but the reality is that they are addictive substances with unknown long-term consequences. Unfortunately, the political reality in Columbia, S.C. is that an outright ban would face steep opposition.
That doesn’t mean we should do nothing, though.
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We’ve already seen, tragically, what happens when the state fails to keep dangerous products off the market. In December 2024, my district was shaken when a young man entered a local vape shop, high after eating a legally sold chocolate bar laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms. He killed two innocent people and wounded a third. That product was legal. It was sold openly, without the oversight or restrictions you would expect for something capable of destroying lives.
That horrifying event underscores the core problem: South Carolina’s regulatory framework is simply not prepared to deal with the rapidly growing, ever-changing market for hemp and other intoxicating “alternative” products. If something can alter your mind, impair your body, and lead to deadly consequences, it should not be available next to bottled water or candy bars.
Opponents will argue that hemp drinks are harmless compared to alcohol. But that misses the point. Alcohol has been regulated for generations, with age limits, licensing requirements, and enforcement mechanisms in place. Hemp drinks are a brand-new frontier. We don’t fully understand their effects, and in the absence of regulation they are being marketed directly to teenagers and young adults. Other opponents will argue that by moving hemp drinks into the ABC system, it goes against free market principles by cutting out existing retailers and creates market benefits for the ABC stores. This argument is one that we should fully consider.
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RELATED | ‘INVOLUNTARY INTOXICATION’ LED TO FATAL SHOOTOUT
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Kentucky’s solution isn’t perfect, but it is practical. By moving hemp drinks into the ABC system, Kentucky at least ensures that only adults have access to them and can purchase them, that sales are tracked and monitored, and that consumers understand they’re buying a regulated intoxicant, not a novelty soda. That’s a common-sense, achievable step for South Carolina to take right now.
Doing nothing is not an option. We cannot wait for another tragedy like the one in my district before taking action. South Carolina has a chance — right now — to get ahead of this issue and show that we take public safety seriously.
We should follow Kentucky’s lead: regulate hemp drinks under ABC, keep them out of convenience stores, and restrict sales to adults over 21. It is not the perfect solution, but it is the responsible one.
The safety of our communities demands no less.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Heath Sessions represents the citizens of S.C. House District 46 in York County. He is currently serving as medical subcommittee chair in the S.C. House of Representatives’ 3M committee – working on important issues as medical prior authorization, pharmacy benefit manager reform, and eliminating physician non-competes.
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15 comments
“they contain intoxicating compounds that can impair judgment, coordination, and decision-making”
Could be talking about beer or vino there.
EeFeR mAdNeSs 2025 continues…
Hey Heath, if you want to do something worthwhile go hard on legalizing medical marijuana.
Yea you always have the answers don’t you. It must be lonely being the brightest brain in South Carolina
I’ve yet to try one of these products, but when I was in a major beer/wine retailer, I was looking them over and asked a clerk about their potency…apparently anything over “20” [is it millgrams or micrograms per liter???] THC content is gonna have you flying pretty good…..they also had “50’s” which she said you pretty much need to lock yourself in your house and be prepared to be really, really high for about a full day. But to be fair, if you drank 12 ounces of 100 proof liquor in one sittiing as you would a single beer you’d be seriously impaired as well.
Not against it, but can we do so without adding ANY extra taxes to them. They (and every other intoxicant including alcohol) should only pay basic sales tax, not a single cent in “sin” tax.
Keep your laws off my body.
The 2018 Farm Bill that legalized over the counter weed, edibles, and vapes in all 50 states was passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President Trump. Maga loves weed, President Trump loves Freedom, weed is freedom. Anyone can go buy weed all over SC right now and no one is doing shit about it. Get a new issue here Mr. Sessions, no one loves weed more than the GOP (Get Over Pot).
hes a representative actually trying to address concerns his constituents have. Thats admirable, even if there may not be much people can do.
Im for medicinal marijuana, im not for all these goofy thc products that will probably end up being banned like four locos due to dangerous side affects. There gonna end up lumping its dangers in with there already fearful medical marijuana narrative.
I did a little digging. That question can only be answered by the legislature. Submit that request, regulatory bill. Who cares if it takes time, if you found it to be a danger I urge that you start that process addressing the legislature. That way it becomes legally on the legislatures radar. It also seems its common sense of the legislature not to have dangerous products openly available to the community but I dont know anything about these THC drinks to openly voice opinion.
It would be in the best interest to those folks in support of medical marijuana to be vigilant about these products and to stand against unsafe products that contain THC. Because when they cause a problem it only adds to the argument against medical marijuana and it’s clear its a Major topic here, one that many dont want to address head on. I’m sure its frustrating to some that there isnt enough data in support of its dangers, the growing support and the antiquated stance of being against it.
Think of the whole medical marijuana debate as those against it are the the Dad from footloose. Its up to us to show them medical marijuana is safe and wont destroy the beliefs of south carolina. Facts clearly are overlooked and it just makes them that more stubborn.
So you’re saying you wanna ban the only anti-inflammatory products that you can get on the market that’s not even available in the medical system.
This is a related comment about another mind altering product being freely sold in gas stations and convenience stores. KRATOM! This stuff is far worse than Marijuana. It’s highly addictive and is destroying lives on a daily basis. There are no federal or state controls or bans in the country
Is there some research you can point to regarding KRATOM being harmful?
As is not uncommon, go after the low hanging fruit. Good lord, these have THC and CBD in them! They have to be bad for everyone. As a child of the 60’s and a Cop of the 70’s I can speak to my own experiences. Weed back them smelled better, inhaled better, and did not have all the hybrids they have now. Never had a physical confrontation with a pure weed smoker. Now, add in crack or fentanyl or angel dust or opioids, then you have a problem. The additives drive a person to unexpected and often out of character actions. Glue sniffing was also a problem. Hemp has been around a long time. Anything can be abused. I have no issue with the drinks being sold only in liquor stores, but it does raise the issue of the market. One thing is clear, the Republicans can’t resist pontificating on morals. Big Brother is here to protect us from ourselves whether we want to be protected or not. The Democrats are concentrating on Wide Open borders and more spending on social programs without overview. Bottom line, we have a Legislature that legislates against what they deem sin with out their own personal experience to qualify them to do so. I will remain a MAGA Republican because I can’t support a leftist Democrat Party. But, that does not mean I support the Republican morals platform. Where are all the bills to cut taxes, address ever rising property taxes, restore a teacher’s authority in the class room, build and improve our infrastructure? Those are some of my priorities and I believed they are shared by a majority of my fellow Conservatives.
The fact that politicians feel they need to fix (or regulate more precisely). Is tiring. Leave us alone…. Reduce/eliminate taxes. Reform the criminal justice system. Reduce the size of state government. Address school funding and property taxes. Everything else is just noise. Once all this is accomplished we can begin worrying about personal choices.
Why is doing nothing not an option? Its an option with everything else in this state.
The Author doesn’t make a case for why South Carolina should follow Kentucky’s lead, keep it out of convenience stores and require an age minium of 21. Not sure why the safety of our communities demands no less. That’s like Communism. Looks good on paper but….