Fond du Lac staff propose city permit for CBD/THC beverages to curb youth access and OWI risks

City Attorney Deb Hoffman asked the Fond du Lac City Council on Jan. 14 to consider a local permit for retailers that sell CBD/THC beverages, saying the products can be psychoactive and carry a risk of impaired driving.

Hoffman said the idea came to her office after seeing a similar approach in West Allis and that a permit would give the city a tool to require retailers to restrict sales to adults and allow police to check compliance during routine inspections. "They are psychoactive," she said, "and they do — you feel high drinking those." She added that a person impaired by such a product could be charged with operating while intoxicated.

Council members welcomed the proposal and asked how the city would implement it. "We'd come up with the necessary forms," Hoffman said, adding the city would publicize the requirement, place information on the city's website, and give notice to likely retailers. Hoffman said the first enforcement step would be a warning and that repeated noncompliance could result in a ticket.

Council Member Mullen, who had previously requested work on this issue, said he supported restricting youth access and praised the city's approach. "Because there is this loophole and these drinks do intoxicate, I think it's a good idea that we restrict access to children," he said.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the item was presented as an input item and will return as an action item at a later meeting with draft permit forms and an implementation plan.

Provenance: The presentation and council discussion appear in the meeting transcript during the input item on CBD/THC beverages introduced by City Attorney Deb Hoffman. The primary evidence is the attorney's explanation of the draft ordinance and the subsequent council Q&A.