SB 33 hearing: sponsor cites federal change on intoxicating hemp; witnesses split between public-health and industry concerns
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Summary
Senator Kirkpatrick presented a substitute to SB 33 to align state law with recent federal limits on intoxicating hemp products; public witnesses were divided — industry speakers warned of job losses and reduced patient access, while recovery and faith groups urged tighter limits for public health.
Senator Kirkpatrick told the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs committee that the SB 33 substitute is intended to mirror federal action on intoxicating hemp products and expand state enforcement authority. She said, "in November 2025, congress passed restrictions on hemp products including delta 8 by banning most intoxicating hemp products with a concentration of greater than point 3% on dry weight basis, effective in November," and that the state must update statutes so state law enforcement and the Georgia Department of Agriculture can act.
Committee members asked about prior legislative study work; Kirkpatrick and members said a blue-ribbon review had met but had not produced a published final report, and Kirkpatrick said the substitute was revised to match federal changes rather than await new federal clarity.
Public testimony split along expected lines. Alan Hart of the US Hemp Roundtable urged the committee to reject SB 33, saying the bill would "hit a sledgehammer on an industry that has become very strong in the state of Georgia, providing over $150,000,000 in tax revenue in 2024 alone," and argued strict caps could push consumers to an unregulated market and restrict patient access to high-CBD therapeutic products. He urged the committee to pursue targeted testing and contaminant bans instead of a broad cap.
Jeff Breedlove of the Georgia Council for Recovery, speaking from long-term lived experience with addiction, supported reasonable THC limits and cautioned about medical consequences from higher THC concentrations, saying the committee should "stand up for the victims of this" and pursue science-based limits rather than inaction.
Mike Griffin, representing the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told the committee his organization supports Senator Kirkpatrick's approach to limit intoxicating cannabinoids in consumable hemp products for public-health and moral reasons.
Several witnesses asked the committee to delay or refine the substitute while others urged urgent alignment with federal law. The committee did not vote; the chair said a fuller hearing with more staff and written materials is scheduled next Wednesday for more detailed line-by-line review and that additional LC numbers may accompany further changes.