HBA applauds Reps. Angie Craig and Andy Barr for bipartisan Lawful Hemp Protection Act
DENVER - The Hemp Beverage Alliance, the trade association for the hemp beverage industry with 375 members in the U.S. and Canada, today applauded Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) and Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) for introducing the Lawful Hemp Protection Act, a bill to regulate hemp products at the federal level.
This legislation reflects the increasing consensus that a clear federal framework is needed to support a stable, transparent hemp beverage marketplace. With the November deadline approaching, the Lawful Hemp Protection Act will provide regulatory certainty and allow responsible operators across the supply chain to continue to grow and compete.
The legislation addresses several critical issues, including:
Establishing that hemp drinks can only be marketed and sold to adults aged 21 and over
Protecting public health through testing requirements
Empowering consumers by developing clear, strong labeling requirements
Leveraging the existing alcohol regulatory framework, commonly called the three-tier system
Creating parity with the alcohol industry by establishing a reasonable excise tax
HBA and other stakeholders worked with Representative Barr and Representative Craig’s office over several months to develop legislation that builds on the accountability standards that have long governed the alcohol marketplace.
“Representative Barr and Representative Craig’s bill is a smart, bipartisan, stakeholder-supported solution,” said Christopher Lackner, founder and president, Hemp Beverage Alliance. “On behalf of the country’s hemp beverage suppliers, distributors, retailers, and responsible adult consumers, we urge Congress to fast-track this legislation.”
The hemp beverage industry has been a boon to local economies throughout the country. Craft brewers, wine & spirits distributors, liquor retailers and others have embraced the new category as sales of their legacy products continue to decline. In addition, states with regulatory frameworks are gathering significant tax revenue for the public benefit.
HBA recently released an industry data report that showed 133% growth in the category. With a federal framework in place, that growth is expected to accelerate, creating more jobs, more opportunity, and more consumer choice.
The 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (commonly known as the “Farm Bill”) helped create a thriving hemp beverage category that continues to grow at an astounding rate. Although 28 states currently regulate hemp beverages, Congress passed a law in November 2025 that would eliminate the entire hemp industry. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would save the hemp industry from this potential ban.
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