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

Senate Bill 229

By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th and Summers of the 13th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Chapter 23 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," and Chapter 3 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of alcoholic beverages generally, so as to prohibit the issuance of wholesale consumable hemp licenses to wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages; to prohibit wholesale dealers of alcoholic beverages from selling or otherwise distributing consumable hemp products; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 23 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," is amended by revising Code Section 2-23-6.3, relating to wholesale consumable hemp establishment licenses, as follows:

"2-23-6.3.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, consideration, issuance, and revocation of wholesale consumable hemp licenses issued by the department pursuant to this Code section shall be accomplished in accordance with Chapter 5 of this title, and such licenses shall otherwise be governed by such chapter.

(b) Applications for a wholesale consumable hemp license shall be made on a form furnished by the Commissioner and, together with such other information as the Commissioner may require, shall state:

(1) The name of the applicant;

(2) The business address of the applicant;

(3) The complete telephone number and email address of the applicant;

(4) The location of the facility where the applicant will store consumable hemp products and otherwise operate as a wholesaler of consumable hemp products in this state and whether such facility is owned or leased by the applicant; and

(5) If the applicant is a business entity, the name of the owners, partners, members, or shareholders of such entity.

(c) Wholesale consumable hemp licenses shall be issued by the department for one calendar year at an annual licensing fee of at least $500.00 but not more than $10,000.00, as established by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may establish separate classes of wholesale consumable hemp licenses based on the amount of consumable hemp products to be sold by the licensee, and the annual licensing fees required by this subsection shall be in different amounts for each such separate class of wholesale consumable hemp licenses.

(d) Wholesale consumable hemp licenses issued by the department pursuant to this Code section shall be issued in connection with a single facility where the licensee will store consumable hemp products or otherwise operate as a wholesaler of consumable hemp products. For a person to store consumable hemp products or otherwise operate as a wholesaler of consumable hemp products at multiple facilities, such person shall be required to obtain from the department separate wholesale consumable hemp licenses for each such facility.

(e) No wholesale consumable hemp license shall be issued by the department pursuant to this Code section to any person that is a licensed wholesale dealer of alcoholic beverages under the provisions of Title 3 or to any person that is affiliated with such a licensed wholesale dealer."

SECTION 2.

Chapter 3 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of alcoholic beverages generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"3-3-35.

No licensed wholesale dealer shall sell or otherwise distribute consumable hemp products, as such term is defined in Code Section 2-23-3."

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.