Southington Councilman Sounds 'Weed Drink' Alarm

SOUTHINGTON, CT — One town official is sounding a warning for local parents to be wary of THC-infused drinks on the market that could be sold to their children.

At the last Southington Town Council meeting, Democratic Councilman Christopher Palmieri used the meeting to tell residents to be wary of these drinks. He said local leaders and lawmakers are weighing the next steps.

"I'm not sure how aware members of the community are," Palmieri said.

He said some residents have notified him and other town officials of the availability of these drinks and the fact they might not be known by parents.

The concern is children could accidentally or, even, intentionally ingest the drinks.

THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and it is the active ingredient in cannabis products, essentially being responsible for getting high and the altered mental state of users.

According to Palmieri, these drinks are "not age-restricted due to a loophole in the language because of the way the packaging is done."

Palmieri said, for example, seltzer drinks contain 5 mg of THC per serving. Because the packaging says "5 servings" instead of "5 mg" there are no legal restrictions, he said.

Because there are no age restrictions due to the language on the packaging, Palmieri said children can, theoretically, purchase these drinks at package and convenience stores.

"I just want to make sure that parents are aware that there are THC-infused drinks that can be sold to some of our youth," Palmieri said. "That's very concerning."

According to Palmieri, both local lawmakers and the Southington Townwide Effort to Promote Success (STEPS) are also working on a campaign regarding these drinks.

STEPS is a local nonprofit agency that works with the community and its schools to limit tobacco, alcohol, drug, and cannabis usage among local teens.

These so-called "weed drinks" — which come in packaging similar to energy drinks — are becoming popular as cannabis is, more and more, becoming legal throughout the country.

Connecticut last year legalized the sale and use of recreational cannabis products, which are now smoked, eaten, and — now — imbibed.

Snoop Dogg, the rapper/actor who has made marijuana use part of his image, has gotten into the "weed drink" business, serving up a new line of such beverages last December.

For the minutes of the Feb. 12 Southington Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

For more information on 'weed drinks' in Connecticut, click on this link.