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.
The Hemp Beverage Expo and What’s Next for the Industry
The latest article from Bevnet.com discusses the budding optimism in the hemp beverage category following a strong turnout at the Hemp Beverage Expo.
The Intersection of Alcohol and Hemp
Craft Business Daily did a deep dive into the Hemp Beverage Expo. For those who can get past the paywall, it’s definitely worth a read.
Hemp Beverage Alliance Gears Up for Hemp Beverage Expo
The Beer Connoisseur wrote about upcoming expo, including the speakers, brands, and key events that will be taking place:
The Hemp Beverage Expo marks the largest exhibition of hemp beverage brands to date, with over 100 brands present in one room, including heavy hitters Nowadays, Keef Brands, Kiva Confections, Wyld, Pabst Labs, Cheech & Chong, Brez and Wynk, as well as buzzy rising stars Ayrloom, Dad Grass, Cornbread Hemp, Climbing Kites and more. For the first time ever, all exhibitors will be serving infused product samples on the expo floor, allowing attendees to enjoy the full flavor profiles and experiences the drinks have to offer. The fun will continue at the official Hemp Beverage Expo afterparty on July 10, where SKOL Brewing Company will be transformed into a full-service hemp-infused beverage bar.
Panels will span a range of timely topics from regulatory to business to product development, including such discussions as:
“Grab & Go: Finding Cooler Space in Convenience Stores and Gas Stations”
“Beyond the Vineyard: Expanding Your Portfolio with Hemp”
“Fueling Growth – Funding Strategies for Hemp Beverage Brands”
“Beyond the Can: Exploring Emerging Formats in Hemp Beverages”
Speakers include both industry mainstays, such as Dylan Lowery, Co-founder and COO of Cantrip, Jake Bullock, Co-founder of CANN, as well as leading adopters and advocates of the category, such as Ryan Moses, CEO of Best Brands in Tennessee, Megan Poepping-Widor, Hemp-Derived Sales & Brand Manager at Bernick’s serving Minnesota and Wisconsin, and Kathy Wiliams, Senior Category Manger for Minuteman Food Mart in North & South Carolina.
Read the entire article here and register for the Hemp Beverage Alliance Expo here.
Hemp Beverage Conference Planned for July
The Hemp Beverage Alliance Expo was recently promoted in an article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The Hemp Beverage Alliance Expo is planned at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park from July 9-11, according to event organizers. The conference, which bills itself as the nation’s largest gathering of hemp beverage brands, will host nearly 100 exhibitors and more than 45 speakers.
Georgia lawmakers considered banning hemp-based, THC-infused drinks in the state earlier this year, but the bill was ultimately changed to expand access to such beverages by allowing them to be sold in package stores, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. That bill eventually died in chamber. The state previously passed a law regulating some aspects of THC beverages and restricting their sale to people over the age of 21.
Read the entire article here and register for the Hemp Beverage Alliance Expo here.
Hemp Beverage Alliance: Empower the Consumer with Information
The Hemp Beverage Alliance spoke with the Boston Globe about how the hemp beverage industry prioritizes safety, quality, and consumer protection:
Above-board hemp farmers and manufacturers argue that there are many good
players who abide by the federal limits. Christopher Lackner, president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, said his members, who manage 140-some brands, commit to including warning symbols, chemical
compound labels, and QR codes that link to product safety results on packages.
“We have no interest in confusing the consumer,” Lackner said. “We want to empower
them with information that allows them to make a smart choice.”