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ROCHESTER, Minn. 鈥� When it comes to THC, many of Minnesota鈥檚 craft brewers are taking a wait and see approach.

As of July 1, products containing up to 5 milligrams of hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinols, the primary intoxicant in cannabis plants, can . The change surprised even some of the lawmakers who passed the legislation.

Some confusion on regulation of sales of THC-infused products prompted letters to liquor sellers earlier this month from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety鈥檚 Alcohol Gaming Enforcement Division stating liquor sellers aren鈥檛 authorized to sell THC products.

This caught in Rochester, Minnesota, by surprise.

Lester was an early adopter of THC-infused products when the law took effect in July. He said he was looking forward to offering customers THC-infused beverages.

鈥淚t was spectacular the first few weeks,鈥� Lester said.

He said first-time customers and people who wanted to avoid smoke and vape shops were the top buyers of the THC-infused waters, chocolates and gummies he initially offered until receiving a letter from the DPS.

The letter clarified the limited list of items off-sale liquor stores are allowed to sell.

鈥淭HC products, anything, are not on this,鈥� he said.

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin

This has led to some breweries to hold off on plans to create THC beverages if where they can be sold is restricted.

While some breweries are beginning to introduce nonalcoholic beverages infused with THC, under current law, THC can鈥檛 be added to alcoholic beverages, DPS officials said.

That makes regulation of THC outside the purview of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, said guild board president Dawn Finnie.

Finnie, who is co-owner of Little Thistle Brewing in Rochester, said her understanding is that breweries could sell THC-infused seltzers where they鈥檙e made and in taprooms and some other retailers.

The lack of clarity on off-site sales has some producers waiting before beginning to make anything in their facilities.

The passage of the legislation also took brewers by surprise, she added.

鈥淲e really hadn鈥檛 had solid conversations about it at least at a craft brewers guild level,鈥� Finnie said.

As far as production at her brewery, that鈥檚 still up in the air.

Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin

鈥淲e hate to have something about ready and then find out, oh, we can鈥檛 sell it in this way or that way,鈥� she said.

The owners of Kinney Creek Brewing, Rochester's oldest brewery, which already produces a line of seltzers, is similarly holding off on creating THC-infused seltzers until rules of sales and distribution are clarified.

If any Rochester brewery does move forward with something, Lester would normally jump at an opportunity to sell it.

Lester focuses on carrying sought-after and Minnesota-made beverages at his store. He said he hopes some clarifications or changes to the rule will allow him to sell what Minnesota producers have to offer.

Duluth-based Bent Paddle Brewing and Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis both announced they will produce a low-THC content seltzer this month. Minneapolis Cider Co. has introduced two flavors of Trail Magic, a nonalcoholic containing 3 milligrams of THC.

THC seltzer elevates Bent Paddle's taproom offerings

Crowlers of CBD nonalcoholic seltzer have returned to the Bent Paddle Brewing taproom. The company this month plans to release four-can packs for distribution in two varieties 鈥� THC and non-THC CBD seltzers.

David O鈥橬eill, co-founder of Minneapolis Cider Co., said the THC in the beverage will provide consumers with a buzz equivalent to about a 5% alcohol content cider.

Lester said those are the types of products his customers would typically buy. Trail Magic is available in some nearby liquor stores, he said, which, from his understanding, might violate the policy he was warned about.

Despite the temptation to do the same, Lester said he won鈥檛 carry those beverages until he鈥檚 given a clear OK to do so.

鈥淚鈥檇 hate to be the poster child for what happens if you go against what is allowed or how it鈥檚 interpreted,鈥� he said.

Besides, quietly carrying unique beverages isn鈥檛 his style, he added.

鈥淚f we鈥檙e bringing a product into the shop, we want to promote it,鈥� he said.

For now, he鈥檚 holding off carrying any items with the hope some clarifying legislation comes from next year鈥檚 legislative session.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind having to jump through hoops if it means this industry can be allowed to grow in the right way,鈥� he said. 鈥淪et those hoops up, I鈥檒l jump through them.鈥�

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