SB 229: Alcoholic Beverages; the issuance of wholesale consumable hemp licenses to wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages; prohibit

Georgia currently issues separate wholesale licenses for consumable hemp products (things like hemp-derived drinks and edibles) and for alcoholic beverages. Some alcohol wholesalers have also sought hemp wholesale licenses to distribute both kinds of products. This bill would close that door. It amends the Georgia Hemp Farming Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 23 of Title 2) to stop the state Department of Revenue from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to any business that already holds a wholesale alcoholic beverage license, or to any business affiliated with one. It also adds a new section to the alcoholic beverage code (O.C.G.A. Title 3, Chapter 3) directly prohibiting licensed wholesale alcohol dealers from selling or distributing consumable hemp products at all. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a separate effective date beyond the standard process for bills becoming law.

• Blocks the Department of Revenue from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to any business licensed as a wholesale alcoholic beverage dealer.
• Extends that same license ban to businesses affiliated with a licensed wholesale alcohol dealer, not just the dealer itself.
• Adds a new Code section making it illegal for any licensed wholesale alcohol dealer to sell or distribute consumable hemp products.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new restrictions.

Wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages in Georgia, companies affiliated with those dealers, and any business currently distributing or hoping to distribute both alcohol and consumable hemp products through the same wholesale operation. The Department of Revenue, which issues these licenses, is also affected.

Wholesale alcohol distributors would be cut off from the consumable hemp market, keeping the two supply chains separate. Companies that combined alcohol and hemp distribution, or planned to, would need to restructure or drop one line of business to stay licensed in Georgia.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 2-23-6.3 by adding subsection (e), barring the department from issuing a wholesale consumable hemp license to a licensed wholesale alcohol dealer or its affiliates.
• Section 2 adds new O.C.G.A. § 3-3-35, prohibiting licensed wholesale alcohol dealers from selling or distributing consumable hemp products, using the definition of that term from § 2-23-3.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

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

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

• consumable hemp
• alcohol wholesalers
• hemp regulation
• alcoholic beverage licensing