Hemp Beverage Alliance Applauds House Vote to Delay Hemp Ban to December

The Hemp Beverage Alliance said the House of Representatives’ Sept. 1 passage of H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, includes a one-month delay in a federal prohibition affecting hemp beverages. The Senate passed the continuing resolution on Aug. 8 with bipartisan support, according to the trade group.

The Hemp Beverage Alliance represents more than 375 organizations in the U.S. and Canada, according to the organization.

Christopher Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, said the additional time could allow Congress to develop a federal regulatory framework for the category.

“The Hemp Beverage Alliance commends the House of Representatives for providing more time to create a regulatory framework for the hemp beverage industry,” Lackner said.

“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.”

The alliance said alcohol distributors and retailers currently sell hemp beverages in 28 states that regulate the category. It has called for federal regulation of hemp beverages and has supported proposals that would apply elements of the alcohol regulatory system to the category.

“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,” Lackner said. “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.”

The continuing resolution delays the prohibition affecting hemp beverages, while the ban on synthetic cannabinoids remains scheduled to take effect Nov. 12, according to the Hemp Beverage Alliance.

The alliance also cited data from its 2024-2025 industry report showing 133% year-over-year growth in the hemp beverage category. The report uses wholesale depletion data from 26 participating brands and represents a portion of the overall marketplace. According to the report, case-equivalent volume increased from 692,435 in 2024 to 1.62 million in 2025.

The Hemp Beverage Alliance has continued to advocate for federal regulation as Congress considers legislation affecting hemp products. In August, the group expressed support for the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, which would regulate hemp beverages through the existing alcohol regulatory system and establish labeling and testing requirements.

The post Hemp Beverage Alliance Applauds House Vote to Delay Hemp Ban to December appeared first on Beverage Information Group.