Hemp Beverage Alliance applauds bipartisan House action to delay hemp ban to December
DENVER - The Hemp Beverage Alliance, the trade association for the hemp beverage industry with 375 members in the U.S. and Canada, released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s vote on H.R.6500 - Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, that includes a temporary delay in the prohibition of hemp beverages.
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance commends the House of Representatives for providing more time to create a regulatory framework for the hemp beverage industry,” said Christopher Lackner, founder and president, Hemp Beverage Alliance.
“The hemp beverage industry looks forward to working with Congress to create a regulatory framework that protects public health, keeps products away from minors, and permanently removes the bad actors that sell untested, high-potency, copycat gummies and candies that target children.
“Hemp beverages are increasingly popular among responsible adults. Alcohol distributors and retailers are already selling them in the 28 states that currently regulate the category. Those states have demonstrated that regulation is the key to public safety and economic success.
“We urge Congress to look at Minnesota, Louisiana, New Jersey, Kentucky, Georgia, and other hemp beverage states to see how regulation is the path to protect public health.”
On September 1, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) that includes a one-month delay in the prohibition of the hemp industry. The CR passed the Senate on August 8 with bi-partisan support.
The ban on synthetic cannabinoids remains in place and will go into effect on November 12.
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 have gathered 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 and create more jobs, more opportunity, and more consumer choice.
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.
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