Will We Ever See THC In Bars?

Westword

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Dear Stoner: I can see why bars or clubs with alcohol wouldn't allow people to smoke weed at their establishments, but what about infused mocktails? Could you see bars ever allowing low-dose THC drinks or edibles?
Ganja Guzzler

Dear Ganja Guzzlers: At least one state already does, but mostly by accident. Minnesota currently allows bars, liquor stores, movie theaters and other establishments with liquor licenses to sell low-dose THC drinks, but that was an unseen consequence discovered in a state law that actually intended to ban intoxicating products derived from hemp, which sprouted from a federal loophole in 2018. Thanks to that loophole, there's never been more confusion about what's legal and what isn't, state by state.

click to enlarge

CBD cocktails, like this limoncello drink served at the Nickel in Hotel Teatro, are largely a thing of the past in Denver.

Cleo Mirza

Before that loophole was discovered and hemp-derived THC products took off, I would've been bullish on cannabis mocktails gaining steam across the country. CBD was in cocktails and coffee shops, and smaller doses in THC edibles were just getting popular. But here we are in 2025, still waiting on the DEA to reschedule while more state legislatures come down on intoxicating hemp, including lawmakers in Colorado, California, New York and Texas, and I wouldn't be surprised if Minnesota lawmakers reevaluated their THC drink situation.

In the meantime, maybe it's time for a summer trip to Lake Minnetonka.

Herbert Fuego is the alias of a longtime Westword staffer. Send him questions through [email protected]