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
###
