Gretchen Cirwithian can continue visiting Botana Organics, her favorite CBD store, to buy gummies, creams and other items she uses to help relieve anxiety, body aches and insomnia. Cirwithian, who doesn't drink alcohol, also can keep getting cannabis-infused drinks that give her a mild buzz from the shop north of Wilmington. At least for now.
That's because a state lawmaker seeking to put strict regulations on sales of hemp-based products with low and legal levels of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — has abandoned her efforts to pass a bill before the General Assembly adjourns for the year in two weeks.
Two WHYY News stories last week chronicled the two major and controversial components of the bill introduced in May by state Rep. Deborah Heffernan, and the complaints from CBD store owners, customers and marijuana advocates.
One section would have restricted the sale of hemp products with any THC at all to the state's 30 authorized retail marijuana stores, none of which have opened nearly two years and three months after state lawmakers legalized weed for adults age 21 and older. Officials still won't say when the retail stores will open.
Read more at WHYY