Local Minneapolis Ice Cream Shop Introduces Hemp-Derived THC Treats
This past May, Minnesota state legislators passed a law allowing hemp-derived THC to be used in pre-packaged foods and drinks. Food manufacturers are taking full advantage of the new law and with some old-fashioned, northern ingenuity, ice-cream fans are in for a treat.
Using Hemp-Derived THC: Safety First
Although a license is not required for sale, you will need to ensure that your product is in a child-proof container and labeled accordingly. In addition, House File (H.F.) 4065 does not allow restaurants to sell menu items that have had hemp-derived THC added. All edible products must be manufactured and pre-packaged in compliance with Minnesota’s food manufacturing regulations. You can learn more by reading the FAQs document provided by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy.
Hemp-derived THC products must also be tested for mold, heavy metals, and fertilizers before going to market. The law also limits dosing to 5mg per serving and 50mg per package. These tests can go a long way in building consumer trust and brand loyalty.
Ice Cream for the Greater Good
One local Minneapolis ice cream shop, Bebe Zito, just launched their new THC ice cream “Pineapple Express.” This pineapple-based ice cream is made with salted caramel-soaked pineapple upside-down cake pieces along with 40 hemp-derived THC gummies. A pint includes 50mg of delta-9 THC and will run you about $50 pre-tax. However, this is a treat that you can feel good spending your money on and not just for its therapeutic benefits.
The two companies behind the ice cream, Bebe Zito and Cultivated CBD, are hoping to bring awareness to the racial disparity in the cannabis world. The two forward-thinking companies will be donating 5% of proceeds to Ujamaa Place — a non-profit that aims to help young African American men recently released from jail.
While this is currently only available at Bebe’s Uptown location, we suspect this craze will catch on, spreading its “ice cream with a cause” business model to other cities around the country.
A Hazy yet Hopeful Future
Hemp-derived THC is spreading in popularity across the country, but regulations and bans may quickly follow. While Minnesota CBD and hemp operations are leveraging the new law as a workaround to fast-track their path into the cannabis business, lawmakers are discussing legislature to add hurdles or outright ban hemp-derived THC.
The popular delta-8 is currently either restricted or banned in 21 states. Its stronger counterpart delta-9 is currently legal in 42 states. However, conversations are already circulating in many of those states to put restrictions on sales. For now, hemp-derived THC shows promise for hemp processors but how long these products will stick around remains to be seen.
