Maryville-based THC drink facing Federal ban
MARYVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) -- Owners and operators of a popular Maryville-based bar who recently entered the THC beverage business now risk losing one of their growing income streams because of a looming federal ban.
Worry is setting in for Adam and Ashley Marriott, who run Back 40 Beverages in Maryville, after the bill passed to reopen the federal government last year is set to close a federal THC loophole which allows them to sell their beverages. The couple slowly got into the business after being introduced to more options for their bar, "The Pub" in Downtown Maryville.
"When the ban hits in December, (Back 40 Beverages) is done. We're stuck with the inventory... Here at the bar, we'll have to pull everything that we're currently selling," Adam Marriott shared about what would come of the stockpiles of Back 40 teas, lemonades, and Inny Drink THC shots.
The ban is set for December 11 and has already changed dates once. On this date, it would make the following illegal: hemp-derived products federally illegal if they contain cannabinoids that are synthesized, manufactured outside the plant, or contain cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by the plant.
The product would also be illegal if it contains more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. One of the factors that would effectively shut down Back 40 and similar products they sell is that most of the drink line contains THC that is soon to be over the legal limit.
The Pub does offer traditional alcoholic beverages; however, a recent pride point for the Marriotts is offering the new THC drinks, which they call a healthy alternative.
"We don't get any real negative (feedback about the drinks). Everyone is very positive about it. It's just the education about what it does is the hard part. But we don't have a lot of people saying, this is bad and, you're hurting people," Marriot said.
Some of the hopes the Marriotts shared are that the ban gets reversed or delayed long enough for the federal government to devise a plan to police the product instead of completely removing it. As for the couple, their original plan was to have the drink help with finances in running The Pub; however, now they may have to come together with a backup plan to keep the location running.
"We felt like we were getting in on the front end and something that was new and growing," Ashley Marriott, co-owner of Back 40 Beverages, said about the rise in their drink. "I mean, it has just exploded with popularity in the recent past. And now that we're kind of in limbo or what it's going to do, then, we don't know if we'll be able to push through that or not."
The Marriotts share that ways to assist companies like theirs during this time include purchasing their products. They also encourage writing to lawmakers about the ban through the website, https://www.hempbeveragealliance.org/.
