Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Regulate Hemp Beverages Through Alcohol System
Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Greg Landsman (D-OH) have introduced legislation that would regulate hemp beverages through the existing federal alcohol regulatory system.
The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act comes two days after the Senate passed a continuing resolution that would delay a federal prohibition on certain hemp products from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11. The House of Representatives still needs to approve the measure.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA), which represents 375 hemp beverage companies in the U.S. and Canada, supports the legislation.
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance strongly believes the beverage category should be regulated like alcohol. This legislation does exactly that,” said Christopher Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance. “We look forward to working with Representative Van Duyne and Representative Landsman to pass this legislation this year.”
The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act would establish labeling and testing requirements for hemp beverages along with marketing and advertising rules. The bill would also require hemp beverages to contain only naturally derived cannabinoids and limit sales and consumption to adults 21 and older.
“I’ve heard directly from people across North Texas who consume hemp-derived beverages, and businesses who sell them, that they need clarity, not a ban that pushes this market underground,” Van Duyne said. “The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act brings long-overdue certainty to the industry by regulating these beverages with the same proven structure that has successfully governed alcohol for decades.
“I am glad to introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Greg Landsman, because American families and responsible businesses deserve structure and sensible regulations that protect children while allowing adults to choose beverages they prefer.”
The bill focuses specifically on hemp beverages and could complement legislation addressing other hemp-derived products.
The proposed framework would use the three-tier alcohol distribution system, which separates suppliers, distributors and retailers. The HBA cited a 2025 Center for Alcohol Policy report that found four in five Americans agree the three-tier system serves consumers and the marketplace.
The HBA said businesses including craft brewers, wine and spirits distributors and liquor retailers have entered the hemp beverage category as sales of traditional beverage products have declined. The association also said states with hemp beverage regulations collect tax revenue from the category.
The HBA estimates the broader hemp industry at $29 billion and said its recent industry data report found hemp beverage sales increased 133%. The association said a federal regulatory framework could support further growth.
The 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, commonly known as the Farm Bill, removed hemp and hemp-derived products containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight from the federal definition of marijuana. Congress passed legislation in November 2025 that would change the federal definition and restrict certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
The Senate passed legislation on Aug. 8 to delay implementation of the hemp prohibition until Dec. 11. The House must still act on the measure.
The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act would establish a separate federal regulatory framework for hemp beverages while Congress considers broader changes to federal hemp policy.
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