HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE SUBMITS COMMENTS TO NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
HBA today submitted comments to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture re: Proposed Title 19, Chapter 5 - Adulterated Food Product Regulations.
Click here to download the letter.
Hemp beverage supporters can amplify these comments by emailing the Dept. of Ag. directly.
WHITE HOUSE ISSUES STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY ON HEMP/HR 8646
From our good friends at Policy, Decoded:
The Office of Management and Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 8646, the fiscal 2027 Agriculture bill, on June 4th, and the cannabis news sits one sentence deep in the budget language. The administration says it supports advancing the bill and welcomes the chance to work with Congress to, at a minimum, update the statutory definition of hemp-derived cannabinoid products so Americans keep access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD while preserving what it calls Congress's intent to restrict products that pose serious health risks. The word doing the work is full-spectrum. Full-spectrum CBD keeps the whole cannabinoid profile of the plant, which means it carries a real concentration of THC, unlike the THC-free broad-spectrum and isolate versions. So this is not the administration asking Congress to strip THC out of hemp. It is asking to preserve THC-containing, whole-plant products while aiming the restriction at the high-dose, intoxicant end of the market, which is a more accommodating position than the early doom read allowed.
Read the entire story here. Download the OMB statement here.
HBA SUBMITS COMMENTS TO TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION ON PROPOSED CONSUMPTION RULES
HBA recently submitted comments in regards to 16 TAC §35.7, Consumption of Consumable Hemp Products . Click here to read the letter.
UPDATES ON MISSOURI, PENNSYLVANIA AND COLORADO
Missouri
Missouri took a meaningful step forward last night. After an extended filibuster, the Senate passed HB 2641 and sent it back to the House before it goes to the Governor. The bill is restrictive in its broader treatment of intoxicating hemp, but it preserves a defined runway for beverage products. Under the bill, hemp beverage products may continue to be sold through November 12th. If the relevant federal language is extended, that date would move as well. HBA’s work in the state helped keep beverages in the market as the legislation moved through the Senate. News here.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania continues to move in a constructive direction. Draft legislation is advancing with support from key allies, including Representative Malagari, and the conversation remains focused on creating a viable regulatory framework for hemp-derived THC beverages. HBA’s lobbyist have helped keep the discussion practical, informed, and tailored to the beverage category. Pennsylvania remains a state where there is real opportunity to build a durable model that addresses safety, labeling, and age-restricted access while preserving a meaningful route to market. News here.
Colorado
Colorado is also seeing movement through beverage-specific legislation. The current proposal would create a clearer path for hemp-derived THC beverages in bars, restaurants, and other retail settings, and it reflects a more developed conversation around how these products should be regulated. That is an important development in a state that has taken a narrower view of intoxicating hemp. The details will matter, particularly with respect to potency, channel restrictions, and product standards, but the legislation presents a serious opportunity to improve the market for compliant beverage products. News here.
HBA SUBMITS COMMENTS TO KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE IN REGARDS TO HOUSE BILL 9
HBA recently submitted comments in regards to House Bill 9. Click here to read the letter.
HBA REQUESTS CLARIFICATION ON RECENT HEMP REGULATORY UPDATES IN TEXAS
HBA recently submitted questions to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in regards to recent regulatory updates. Click here to read the letter.
HBA REQUESTS CLARIFICATION OF NEW JERSEY POTENCY LIMITS
The Hemp Beverage Alliance sent a letter to New Jersey’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control requesting clarification on potency limits for intoxicating hemp beverages. Click here to read the letter.
HBA IN THE NEWS
The Hemp Beverage Alliance was featured in a variety of stories recently. Click on the links below to read and share.
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR URGES CONGRESS TO REGULATE HEMP
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers today released a letter to the state’s congressional delegation urging them to advocate for a federal regulatory framework for hemp. From the letter:
I write today to urge your immediate attention and action regarding the new federal hemp definition scheduled to take effect in November 2026. Without legislative modification, this change will have significant implications for Wisconsin hemp farmers, processors, retailers, and our broader economy.
…
Hemp-derived products currently support a growing sector of legitimate businesses across Wisconsin, employing nearly 3,500 employees and contributing meaningfully to local economies with over $700 million in economic production
…
I strongly believe federal legislation is needed to prevent the negative impacts of the new federal hemp definition. I respectfully request that you work with your congressional colleagues to pursue a legislative solution that maintains a workable, science-based hemp definition that prevents unnecessary economic harm. At the very least, I urge you to support federal legislation to delay the effective date of the new federal hemp definition by an additional two years, such as S. 3686, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act.