Dubuque City Council Adds THC Drinks to Open Container Ban

Per Telegraph Herald, the Dubuque City Council has voted to expand their open-container ordinance to beverages containing cannabis, or THC, which have skyrocketed in popularity over the last several years.

The decision was made after the council voted unanimously (7-0) to expand the existing open-container legislation to include beverages infused with THC. Those who violate this law could be charged with a simple misdemeanor.

READ MORE: New Iowa Law Forces Hemp Store in Dubuque to Close its Doors

The Update to the Dubuque Code of Ordinances:

Per Telegraph Herald, the Dubuque Code of Ordinances includes a ban on open or unsealed bottles/cans of alcoholic beverages in an area that could be accessed by drivers or passengers of a motor vehicle.

With new drinks popping up at rapid rates, local laws have lagged behind in keeping up with what is permissible for an occupant in a vehicle to consume. All the rage these days are beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis products. The change was requested by the Dubuque Police Department, and the City Council voted unanimously to add THC drinks to the open-container ban.

How Popular THC Drinks Have Become:

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Nearly four-in-five adults who drink cannabis-infused beverages say they've reduced their alcohol intake, with more than a fifth having quit alcohol all together, per the website Marijuana Moment. This checks out when considering additional data that alcohol consumption is down across the entire country.

The rising cost of alcohol both in stores and bars is a contributing factor, but there are a wealth of other options that didn't exist even five years ago, including the rising popularity of mocktails.

Bringing it back to Dubuque, alcohol and THC beverages may be transported in the trunk or behind the last seat of a vehicle. Read more about changes to the city ordinance on the Telegraph Herald's website.