MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS LOOK TO HEMP BEVERAGES FOR NEW STATE REVENUE SOURCE
A plan to regulate hemp beverage sales in the Michigan is seen as a source of needed revenue for the state, an example for other legislatures to follow.
"The real substance of proposed hemp regulations has yet to be finalized,” State Rep. Joseph Aragona, R-Clinton Township emphasized to Crain’s Detroit Business, but he said if it ultimately gets through the Legislature, the move could provide “hundreds of millions of dollars” in new taxes to help pay for various infrastructure needs.
“We’re still working out those details,” Aragona said. “In general, this should be hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue, easy.”
The news comes at a time when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers are struggling to figure out new income streams to pay for road repairs across the state.
Read the full article here (paywall protected): Crain’s Detroit Business
HBA SPEAKS WITH LEGISLATORS IN MICHIGAN ABOUT SENSIBLE REGULATION
HBA President Christopher Lackner recently testified about the need for sensible regulations on hemp beverages before the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee. Watch the testimony here.
HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IN MICHIGAN
(LANSING, Mich.) – The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA), the trade association for the hemp beverage industry with nearly 400 members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is establishing a coalition to create and support a sensible regulatory framework for hemp beverages in Michigan.
HBA representatives will meet on Thursday with several legislators and testify about the need for sensible regulations on hemp beverages before the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee.
HBA supports regulatory principles that set sensible limits for THC content, keep products away from children, provide robust product testing, and create tax revenues for the public benefit. These principles can be found on the trade association’s website: hempbeveragealliance.org/principles.
Hemp beverages are seltzers, sodas, mocktails, coffees, teas, and other non-alcoholic drinks that contain a small infusion of hemp-derived cannabinoids. Since hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, states like Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and others have developed regulatory frameworks to create a safe and thriving industry.
“Across the country, adults increasingly are turning to hemp beverages as an alternative to what’s currently available at the bar or liquor store," said Christopher Lackner, president, Hemp Beverage Alliance. "By creating a regulatory framework for this new category in Michigan, local brewers, bar owners, distributors, and beverage retailers can adapt to this change in consumer behavior.”
The Hemp Beverage Alliance has retained the lobbying services of former state representative Graham Filler of McAlvey Merchant & Associates to help lead legislative efforts in Michigan.
“A sensible regulatory framework will allow a safe, thriving and transparent hemp beverage industry in Michigan while generating more tax revenues and creating new jobs,” said Filler. “As employment and sales tax revenue decline in the beer, wine and spirits sectors, the sale of hemp beverages, if properly regulated, could replace some of those lost tax dollars and jobs. ”
States with a regulatory framework for hemp products enjoy significant tax revenues. In 2024, Minnesota taxed hemp products at 10 percent and generated $11.6 million in revenue. Tennessee, which taxes hemp products at six percent, generated more than $11 million in revenue in 2024. That number jumped to $17 million for 2025. These numbers are expected to increase as awareness of the category grows.
About the Hemp Beverage Alliance
The mission of the Hemp Beverage Alliance is to create a safe and thriving industry through education, advocacy, best practices and partnership. We achieve this by providing consumers, retailers, and distributors with the information they need to better understand the industry; developing best practices to create consistency in labeling and manufacturing; working with elected officials and regulators to encourage common-sense regulation; and collaborating with cannabis and alcohol industries to create a marketplace that benefits everyone. More at: hempbeveragealliance.org.
About McLavey Merchant & Associates
McAlvey Merchant & Associates represents a diverse range of clients – organizations, institutions and companies of all sizes – across industries including environment and energy, education, healthcare, insurance, charitable organizations, city governments and more. We specialize in custom governmental and political strategy development that assists organizations in solving problems, facing challenges and achieving their goals. More at: mcalvey.com
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HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE FORMALIZES INDUSTRY SALES DATA REPORTING THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH VERMONT INFORMATION PROCESSING
The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA) today announced a partnership with Vermont Information Processing (VIP) to compile and report on industry-wide aggregate sales data, establishing the first formal reporting of its kind on hemp beverage sales.
HBA is the trade association for the hemp beverage industry with nearly 400 members in the United States, Canada, and Europe. VIP provides distributor and retailer sales tracking services by collecting data from wholesalers of beer and wine across the country. Through the agreement with HBA, VIP is now collecting and compiling the similar data from hemp beverage producers.
“The hemp beverage marketplace is booming across the United States but until now there was a lack of reliable and trackable data for the industry,” said Christopher Lackner, president, Hemp Beverage Alliance. “The most accurate data for the industry comes from distributors and retailers, and through these reports we can more precisely monitor the sales increases of hemp beverages nationwide.”
In the first-ever examination of limited national sales data on hemp beverages across 42 states, HBA announced that the case-equivalent (CE) totals show an average monthly sales growth rate of 77% from January 2024 through August 2025. The initial 22 HBA-member companies to provide the data to VIP have seen nearly continuous monthly growth through all of 2024 and 2025.
“Vermont Information Processing is thrilled to partner with the Alliance by gathering and analyzing data from the rapidly growing hemp beverage industry,” said Michele Noonan, sales leader, VIP. “Our sales tracking services already benefit many HBA members, and as more companies within the hemp beverage sector engage with us, the industry’s growth and potential will become even more evident.”
Measuring the number of distribution points is another important metric for determining industry growth. In the preliminary data, HBA sees an upward trend that follows a similar pattern to case-equivalent volumes. The number of points of distribution jumped by 95% from August 2023 to August 2025. By August 2025 the number exceeded the known distribution points for all 2024.
The initial report also showed how Minnesota, an early adopter of hemp beverages and sensible regulation of the industry, still dominates the largest state share of the market. But as more states have entered the market, there were notable increases in sales in the Carolinas and Florida.
Through the new reporting system, VIP aggregates the data from HBA-member brands in an anonymous fashion and provides it to HBA. VIP hemp beverage clients are encouraged to contact HBA at info@hempbeveragealliance.org to contribute their data to the study and increase the veracity of these reports. As more HBA members provide their sales data to VIP, HBA intends to publish an expanded report on a quarterly basis starting in early 2026.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance supports regulatory principles that set sensible limits for THC content, keep products away from children, provide robust product testing, and create tax revenues for the public benefit. These principles can be found on the trade association’s website: hempbeveragealliance.org/principles.
About the Hemp Beverage Alliance
The mission of the Hemp Beverage Alliance is to create a safe and thriving industry through education, advocacy, best practices and partnership. We achieve this by providing consumers, retailers, and distributors with the information they need to better understand the industry; developing best practices to create consistency in labeling and manufacturing; working with elected officials and regulators to encourage common-sense regulation; and collaborating with cannabis and alcohol industries to create a marketplace that benefits everyone. More at hempbeveragealliance.org.
About Vermont Information Processing
VIP is the leading technology supplier for brewers, distributors, wineries, soda bottlers, and other companies in the beverage industry. From helping distributors improve their warehouse, delivery, and sales operations, to empowering suppliers to know where their products are and how they’re selling, VIP has the technology and expertise to help these businesses thrive. More at vtinfo.com
HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE APPLAUDS TEXAS GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR SENSIBLE HEMP PRODUCT REGULATION
The Hemp Beverage Alliance, the trade association of the hemp beverage industry with nearly 400 members in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, today issued the following statement regarding Texas Governor Greg Abbot’s Executive Order regarding hemp product sales in the Lone Star State.
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance applauds Texas Governor Greg Abbott's commitment to sensible regulation of the industry in an effort to capture its vast economic potential, keep the products away from children, provide robust product testing and encourage transparent packaging information.”
“The HBA is committed to working alongside elected officials, policy experts and community leaders to develop federal, state and local policies that protect public health and strengthen our economies.”
“Hemp beverages are incredibly popular with Texans who are seeking additional choices in their adult beverage consumption habits. This executive order allows them to continue to enjoy these beverages while creating a safe, transparent and thriving category in the Lone Star State.”
Hemp beverages are seltzers, sodas, mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks that contain a small infusion of hemp-derived cannabinoids.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance supports regulatory principles that set sensible limits for THC content, keep products away from children, provide robust product testing, and create tax revenues for the public benefit. These principles can be found on the trade association’s website: hempbeveragealliance.org/principles-overview.
About the Hemp Beverage Alliance
The mission of the Hemp Beverage Alliance is to create a safe and thriving industry through education, advocacy, best practices and partnership. We achieve this by providing consumers, retailers, and distributors with the information they need to better understand the industry; developing best practices to create consistency in labeling and manufacturing; working with elected officials and regulators to encourage common-sense regulation; and collaborating with cannabis and alcohol industries to create a marketplace that benefits everyone. More at hempbeveragealliance.org.
HBA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN PENNSYLVANIA
(HARRISBURG, Pa.) – The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA), the trade association for the hemp beverage industry with nearly 400 members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is establishing a coalition to create and support a sensible regulatory framework for hemp beverages in the Keystone State.
Hemp beverages are seltzers, sodas, mocktails, coffees, teas, and other non-alcoholic drinks that contain an infusion of hemp-derived cannabinoids. Since hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, states like Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and others have developed regulatory frameworks to create a safe and thriving industry.
“Hemp beverages are the fastest growing category in adult beverages, but we need a regulatory framework to protect consumers, keep products away from children, and allow the category to thrive,” said Christopher Lackner, president, Hemp Beverage Alliance. “We look forward to working with legislators, public health advocates, law enforcement, alcohol distributors and other stakeholders to create a system that works for everyone.”
HBA has retained Jay Wiederhold of Wanner Associates to lead their legislative efforts in the Commonwealth. Mr. Wiederhold served for 20 years as President of the Pennsylvania Beer Alliance (PBA).
“A sensible regulatory framework will allow a safe, thriving and transparent hemp beverage industry along with permitting the Commonwealth to generate tax revenues and create jobs. This is especially important as we see state budget shortfalls and employment declines in the beer, wine and spirits sectors,” said Wiederhold.
States with a regulatory framework for hemp products enjoy significant tax revenues. In 2024, Minnesota taxed hemp products at 10 percent and generated $11.6 million in revenue. Tennessee, which taxes hemp products at six percent, generated more than $11 million in revenue in 2024. That number jumped to $17 million for 2025. These numbers are expected to increase as awareness of the category grows.
“As a much larger state than Tennessee or Minnesota, Pennsylvania can expect significantly higher tax revenues from hemp beverages,” said Wiederhold.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance supports regulatory principles that set sensible limits for THC content, keep products away from children, provide robust product testing, and create tax revenues for the public benefit. These principles can be found at hempbeveragealliance.org/principles.
ABOUT THE HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE
The mission of the Hemp Beverage Alliance is to create a safe and thriving industry through education, advocacy, best practices and partnership. We achieve this by providing consumers, retailers, and distributors with the information they need to better understand the industry; developing best practices to create consistency in labeling and manufacturing; working with elected officials and regulators to encourage common-sense regulation; and collaborating with cannabis and alcohol industries to create a marketplace that benefits everyone. More at hempbeveragealliance.org.
ABOUT WANNER ASSOCIATES
Wanner Associates is a leading government relations firm and dual association management organization. It is recognized for exceptional service and unwavering commitment to client success. The firm celebrated 40 years in business earlier this year, following their recent achievements of being named a top 50 lobbying firm by City & State Magazine, as well as having both the President and Vice President named in the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal Government Relations Powerlists. More at wannerassoc.com.
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REP. MORGAN GRIFFITH RELEASES DRAFT HEMP BILL
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) began circulating a draft standalone piece of federal legislation that would affirmatively allow and regulate consumable and inhalable hemp products. Here’s a quick summary of the 57-page draft:
Hemp consumable hemp products will be expressly permitted, including beverages, and regulated by FDA
Establishes milligram thresholds for total intoxicating cannabinoid content
Amends and reorganizes Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to create a new chapter for cannabinoid hemp products
Prohibits any added substance, such as alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, nicotine, melatonin or another substances with effects that could interact with cannabinoids or enhance or alter their effects
Provides labeling requirements including content per serving and per package of CBD (even if absent), total naturally occurring intoxicating cannabinoids (even if absent), and all cannabinoids present
Requires QR code linking to a certificate of analysis (COA)
Requires tamper evident packaging, but HHS can set requirements for tamper evidence and child safety packaging
Prohibits packaging that is attractive to people under 21
Implements manufacturing and testing standards including facility registration
Creates a cannabinoid hemp product list
Creates a hemp product advisory committee
Requires HHA to issue a rule specifying the milligram limits for cannabinoid product types
Hemp beverages than contain non-intoxicating cannabinoids can have up to 10mg per serving
Hemp beverages with intoxicating cannabinoids have a limit of .2 milligrams per serving.
This is not yet an official bill release as Rep. Griffith’s office is still gathering input and feedback. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to contact info@hempbeveragealliance.org with recommendations, as HBA will be gathering and compiling comments over the next several weeks.
We are thrilled to see positive regulatory language coming out of DC and forward to continuing to work with Rep. Griffith’s office to further develop this legislation.
And hats off to Michelle B., HBA’s general counsel, for her excellent analysis of this bill.
From State to Federal: What’s Next for Hemp-Derived THC?
HBA recently joined Cultivated Media for a webinar that discussed the ever-evolving regulatory environment of hemp-derived THC. This discussion covers many of the new rules and legislation at the state and federal level, and their consequences for the industry as a whole.
Hemp Beverage Expo ‘25 Quadruples Attendance
Supply Side Food and Beverage Journal recently published an article about this year’s Hemp Beverage Expo in Atlanta. The article discusses the overall success of the event, recent regulatory developments, and some of the Hemp Beverage Expo’s featured brands.
Hemp Beverage Expo Atlanta ‘25 Recap
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Hemp Beverage Expo. Click below to see a video recap of the event, and keep an eye out for information for our next expo in early 2026.