Health

Oregon Bans Marijuana-Infused Alcohol

By Kristian Foden-Vencil (OPB)
Portland, Oregon Feb. 16, 2017 7:22 p.m.
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has issued a ban on marijuana-infused alcohol.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has issued a ban on marijuana-infused alcohol.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

Those who like peaches in their beer, or raspberries in their vodka, might have been looking forward to marijuana-infused alcohol in the future. But that’s not going to happen in Oregon.

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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission issued a ban earlier this week.

The active ingredients in marijuana, THC and CBD, have been designated by the Drug Enforcement Agency as Schedule I drugs.

OLCC Director Steve Marks says the OLCC is following the lead of the DEA and prohibiting marijuana-infused alcohol.

“The labeling on alcohol generally is done by the feds. We don’t do that here in Oregon," Marks said. "So they’re not approving levels with the Schedule I THC products in them. Same for now, CBDs, which the federal government recently made Schedule I as well.”

There are already lots of other marijuana drinks — like coffees, tonics and colas — but not alcohol.

There is also an exception, which is alcohol infused with industrial hemp. It’s regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade and it can’t contain any of the active ingredients in cannabis.

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