Iowa hemp legislation could limit THC products. Here's what could be at risk.

House lawmakers approved a bill increasing regulations on hemp products on Tuesday, capping how much THC can be contained in consumables and requiring Iowans to be at least 21 before buying the products.

The bill heads to the Iowa Senate for consideration and would have to be signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds if passed. Here's a look at what could happen if the bill becomes law.

How did Iowa lawmakers vote and what does Iowa's hemp bill entail?

House File 2605 passed on a 78-16 vote, imposing a limit of four milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving in a consumable product, and no more than 10mg per container.

The bill includes regulations and penalties for violating Iowa's existing hemp possession, sales or manufacturing laws, and prohibits synthetic THC. All consumable THC products would also be required to have a warning label, like alcoholic products.

Why do Iowa lawmakers want to limit THC in hemp products?

Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, the bill's sponsor, said the changes to Iowa's hemp laws were necessary to regulate the availability and potency of consumable products.

"It is a bit of the wild wild west out there in Iowa right now, thanks to the loopholes we did not know we created," Holt said.

Democrats said they were concerned that the regulations would hamper both local businesses that sell THC products and Iowans who rely on them for medical reasons.

Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, warned that upwards of 1,100 retailers in Iowa could be affected by the rules, and that container potency limits and warning labels could spur some national providers to avoid shipping products to Iowa, sending customers across state lines.

What types of THC products are Iowa companies selling?

Several Iowa breweries offer hemp-based seltzer products. The drinks don't have any alcohol, but have a combination of THC and cannabidiol, also known as CBD.

Climbing Kites, a line of THC-infused drinks developed by Lua Brewing and distributed by Big Grove Brewery, wrote in a social media post before the bill passed that the legislation would "gut" Iowa's hemp market.

Big Grove Brewery and Lua Brewing in Des Moines launched Climbing Kites in 2023, and became known as Iowa's first cannabis-infused beverage.

Currently, Big Grove and Lua serve drinks with a combination of THC and CBD. Flavors range from as little as 2.5 mg of THC per can to as much as 10 mg. The higher potency cans could run afoul of the proposed regulations, if they are considered more than one serving per can.

ReUnion Brewery in Iowa City also warned customers of Iowa's new THC regulations. In a recent social media post, it said to followers, "Now is the time to reach out to those reps and tell them how much this bill would hurt our growing and popular THC market.

It offers three varieties of a THC drink, Jungle Vibes, with each containing 10 mg of THC. The cans are labeled as two servings, but that would still exceed the 4 mg per serving limit.

At Bellhop in downtown Des Moines, you can purchase various THC drinks. Bellhop sells Climbing Kites mixed berry with 10 mg THC and 20 mg CBD, as well as seltzers from Minnesota-based Wld Wtr with up to 25 mg THC.

Bellhop also makes seven of their own Delta 9 THC-infused drinks that range from 10 mg for $8 to 40 mg for $14. It's unclear how many servings prepared drinks would count as under the proposed law.

At Barntown in West Des Moines, there are four different 10 mg THC drink options, called Nostalgia, that could be at risk.

What about the dispensaries that sell other THC products in Des Moines?

Des Moines currently has two dispensary locations, located downtown and on Ingersoll.

Connor Stobbe, an employee at The Despensary's downtown location at 221 4th St., said the store carries plenty of products with more than 10 mg of THC per container, including some with more than 1,000 mg of THC per container.

Stobbe said if new regulations pass through the Senate, 90% or more of their products would be wiped from the shelves, eliminating labor for current employees, leading to terminating positions or closing the store entirely.

Des Moines Register reporter Galen Bacharier contributed to this report.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: THC products in Iowa could be limited under new hemp bill