SB229: SB229 Alcoholic Beverages; the issuance of wholesale consumable hemp licenses to wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages; prohibit

Under current Georgia law, businesses that distribute consumable hemp products (things like hemp-derived drinks or edibles regulated under the Georgia Hemp Farming Act) need a wholesale consumable hemp license from the state. This bill would change the rules for who can get that license. The bill amends O.C.G.A. § 2-23-6.3 to block the Department of Agriculture from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to any company that already holds a wholesale alcoholic beverage dealer license, or to anyone affiliated with such a dealer. It also adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 3-3-35, that separately makes it illegal for a licensed alcohol wholesaler to sell or distribute consumable hemp products at all. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a specific delayed effective date beyond the standard process.

• Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to any business already licensed as a wholesale alcoholic beverage dealer.
• Extends that same prohibition to any company affiliated with a licensed alcohol wholesaler.
• Adds a new law, O.C.G.A. § 3-3-35, making it illegal for any licensed alcohol wholesaler to sell or otherwise distribute consumable hemp products.
• Leaves the existing licensing process, fees ($500 to $10,000 annually), and application requirements for wholesale consumable hemp licenses otherwise unchanged.

Wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages in Georgia, companies affiliated with those dealers, and any business seeking a wholesale consumable hemp license, since the two license types would no longer be allowed to overlap. The Department of Agriculture, which issues both types of licenses, would also apply the new restriction.

Companies that currently or plan to hold both an alcohol wholesale license and a hemp product wholesale license would have to choose one, since combining them would become illegal. This could reshape which businesses distribute hemp drinks and edibles across the state.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 2-23-6.3(e) to bar the department from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to a licensed alcohol wholesaler or its affiliate.
• Section 1 leaves intact the existing application requirements (business name, address, facility location, ownership info) and the $500 to $10,000 annual fee range.
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 3-3-35, directly prohibiting licensed wholesale alcohol dealers from selling or distributing consumable hemp products.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-02-21Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)Primary sponsor
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)

• consumable hemp
• alcohol regulation
• wholesale licensing
• hemp products