Hemp, a botanical class of the cannabis sativa plant, has grown in popularity throughout South Carolina.

The plant strain is similar to cannabis, or marijuana, products. The difference is that hemp contains 0.3% or less of delta-9 THC, the agent that can produce euphoria.

South Carolina has no laws regulating the strength or use of substances sold, although lawmakers hope to address that this spring’s legislative session.

The legislative unknowns make buyers and sellers reluctant to talk about what limits might mean to them.

From convenience stores and local markets to restaurants and bars, Columbia residents easily can get their hands on a hemp drink high.

At Green’s Beverage Warehouse on Columbia’s Assembly Street, an isolated room shows shelves filled with hemp-infused drinks for sale. And hemp-derived gummies displayed near a checkout desk.

Manager Brittney Henderson said the drinks and gummies have become popular.

“We started out with about three or four different types and now we have …,” she said, laughing at the absurdity of the store’s current supply.

Drink dosages range from 5 milligrams to 20 milligrams at Green’s. The variations in strength is an issue lawmakers are trying to address.

At other retail locations in Columbia, continued legislative uncertainty has created fear around openly associating with the products.

When asked to be interviewed, residents and local retailers declined to comment.

The recurring reason cited was not wanting to be associated with the products or targeted by future state policies.

Senior University of South Carolina student Samantha Vassallo is a regular user of hemp drink products.

The New Jersey resident said she used marijuana products at home but began using hemp products this year after spotting them in local grocery stores.

One hemp drink gives her a buzz faster than multiple alcoholic drinks.

“If I don’t want to spend that much money at a bar and also have an exam the next day, but all my friends are going to Jake’s on Wednesday, it makes more sense for me to have a THC drink because there’s no hangover and I’ll spend a lot less,” Vassallo said.

Vassallo purchased High Rise THC seltzers from Jake’s Bar and Grill on Devine Street in the fall semester. Jake’s a popular spot among college students.

When she returned to Columbia in January, she found that Jake’s no longer carried hemp or THC beverages, Vassallo said. Jake’s confirmed that.

Two bills aimed at regulating hemp consumables were debated in the House of Representatives last month, but lawmakers didn’t reach a decision.

The bills discussed included H. 4759, which would require hemp beverages to be sold only in liquor stores, restrict beverages to Delta-9 THC and limit drinks to 5 milligrams of THC per 12-ounce can or bottle.

Another bill, H.4758, would completely ban hemp consumables.

Richland County Democratic Rep. Seth Rose said stopping the bills from advancing was a win for Democrats.

“Honestly, it’s amazing to me, out of all the issues we are facing in our state, we act like this is some sort of major crisis,” Rose said.

Lawmakers are debating whether the products are dangerous.

“Law enforcement is saying that this is a big public safety concern, yet we have not had one person testify that this product has killed or hurt anyone,” Rose said.

During a legislative hearing, Rep. Greg Ford, R-Dorchester, shared personal testimony about how hemp has brought relief to his son, who suffers from medical seizures.

Rose also noted the potential business obstruction the bills could cause.

“We’re picking winners and losers, and that’s not what we should do,” he said.

At Green’s, the hemp products are still for sale.

“If (the State Law Enforcement Division) comes in and decides to just box everything up, then that’s what they would do, because they have done that before,” Henderson said, referring to previous unresolved legislative disagreements. “If they didn’t like something, they would come in and box it up.”

For a product already well integrated into the community, the controversy remains puzzling to some.

“I think it’s really interesting, because I have a different viewpoint on weed and THC because I’m from a state where it is legal,” Vassallo said. “So I think there’s a big stigma about it down here, because there’s this impression that this is something bad, something illegal, when in fact it is not.”

Lawmakers say some version of both bills could see votes in both the House and the Senate this spring.