Hemp Beverage Alliance in BevNet
Our efforts in New York were covered in this morning’s BevNet newsletter.
"The Hemp Beverage Alliance – in one of its first major oppositions to state regulations – has joined hemp-derived CBD/THC brand Cycling Frog, New York retailer One Stop Brew Shop and distributor Sarene Craft Beer, in the lawsuit against the OCM. The petition filed on Friday claims that the OCM’s emergency regulations were “not well thought out” and were “ramrodded through on an emergency basis without employing the usual rulemaking procedures, including public notice and comment, despite the lack of any true emergency.”
Keep an eye out for the rest of the story at BevNet.com
HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE JOINS LAWSUIT TO STOP EMERGENCY REGULATIONS IN NEW YORK
he Hemp Beverage Alliance joined with New York retailer One Stop Brew Shop, New York distributor Sarene Craft Beer, and hemp beverage maker Cycling Frog to file an order to stop the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from implementing or enforcing recently enacted "emergency regulations" that would devastate the hemp industry in the Empire State.
"Cycling Frog wants to work with OCM to develop a regulatory framework for hemp beverages that is safe, transparent, and provides New York customers with the products they want. However, this simply cannot be done under the emergency regulation," said Dylan Summers, Vice President of Government Affairs, Cycling Frog. "We hope this action will allow OCM, retailers, distributors, and beverage makers to come together to create a regulatory framework that works for everyone."
Emergency regulations passed by OCM in July will have a catastrophic impact on the state's burgeoning hemp industry. Besides requiring seemingly arbitrary limits for the amount of cannabinoids in products, the regulations fail to consider the economic impact on the more than 8,000 hemp license holders in the state.
"Small businesses like ours, in order to survive, rely on diversification in order to keep employees, provide health benefits and a quality workplace," said James Hilbert, Co-Owner of One Stop Brew Shop in Rochester NY. "Hemp infused beverages provide One Stop with another stream of revenue that has brought in new customers and helps us navigate difficult economies.
"These regulations will have a devastating effect on my business."
In addition to neglecting the economic impact, OCM failed to recognize the consumer impact of having hemp beverages removed from store shelves.
"We are proud to carry hemp beverages that follow strict guidelines for production, testing, labeling, and marketing," said Joe Grabowski, Chief Operating Officer, Sarene Craft Beer. "As beverage wholesalers who already carry alcohol products, we understand the importance of regulation and welcome it but these emergency regulations seem to cause more harm than good. The regulations essentially ban hemp beverages completely and consumers will now be forced to either purchase them legally in neighboring states such as Connecticut or New Jersey or buy them on the unregulated market where they may contain contaminants or be unsafely manufactured."
Hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, the US Food and Drug Administration has ignored the pleas of industry, government leaders, and consumers to properly regulate these products. As a result, individual states have created a patchwork of regulations.
Some states, like Minnesota, have created a thriving marketplace for low-dose, hemp-derived beverages. These products are properly and consistently labeled, age restricted to adults, and can have no more than five milligrams of hemp-derived THC per serving.
"We encourage OCM to look to the state of Minnesota for exemplary legislation," said Christopher Lackner, Executive Director, Hemp Beverage Alliance. "Hemp beverages should be regulated like alcohol, age-restricted like alcohol, taxed like alcohol and available in places where people buy alcohol."
"We look forward to working with OCM to develop a marketplace where adult consumers have access, children are kept away from these products, and the entire state benefits from new sales taxes."
Cycling Frog is the lead plaintiff in the Article 78 special proceeding, which was filed in Albany County on Friday, August 4 as part of the order to show cause. In addition to OCM, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB), CCB Chairwoman Tremaine Wright and OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander are listed as respondents.
Plaintiffs are represented by Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP. A copy of the complaint can be found on the Hemp Beverage Alliance website.
ABOUT
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 mission 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.
Hemp Beverage Alliance joins effort to stop emergency regulations in New York.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance joined with New York retailer One Stop Brew Shop, New York distributor and Alliance member Sarene Craft Beer, and Alliance member Cycling Frog to file an order to stop the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from implementing or enforcing the recently enacted "emergency regulations" that would devastate the hemp industry in the Empire State.
Hemp Beverage Alliance in Food & Beverage Insider
Alliance member Paige Endsley gets a nice shout out from Food & Beverage Insider. Read the whole thing here.
Hemp Beverage Alliance in CannabisRegulator.com
Cannabis Regulator ran our press release announcing our formation. Read it at CannabisRegulator.com. The #futureofdrinking is #hempinfused
Hemp Beverage Alliance in BevNet
The good folks at BevNet met with us to discuss the goals of the Alliance and how we are creating a new industry. Read all about it at BevNet.com (subscription required).
Hemp Beverage Alliance in MG Magazine
MG Magazine published our press release. You can read it (and share it) here:
https://mgmagazine.com/press-releases/hemp-beverage-industry-forms-trade-association/
INTRODUCING THE HEMP BEVERAGE ALLIANCE.
(DENVER) — More than 50 beverage brands, cannabinoid producers, testing laboratories, manufacturing facilities and consulting agencies have created the Hemp Beverage Alliance, a trade association to create a safe, consumer-friendly, and thriving hemp beverage industry.
"Hemp-derived, low-dose cannabis beverages are booming across the country," said Christopher Lackner, executive director, Hemp Beverage Alliance. "Now is the time to bring the industry together to develop strong standards, educate consumers and retailers, and work with state and federal regulators to create a safe and vibrant marketplace for these products.”
The Hemp Beverage Alliance is calling for standardization and smart regulation of the industry.
Safety: The safety of the consumer is paramount and should be the driving force in the industry.
Age limit: Hemp beverages are adult beverages and should be labeled and sold accordingly.
Serving size: Cannabinoid levels should be safe, effective, and provide value to the consumer.
Labeling: Clear labeling is necessary to empower the consumer and build credibility for the industry.
Regulatory clarity: Regulations are necessary and should be thoughtful, concise, and support consumer safety and industry growth.
Marketplace consistency: In lieu of federal action, state governments should work together to develop guidelines that are consistent across state lines.
“Adult consumers are demanding better options to alcohol. They want drinks that are fun, safe, and more easily accessible. We believe low-dose hemp beverages have a place on shelves in conventional retail establishments, subject to similar age restrictions and taxation as alcohol,” said David Knight, CEO of Jones Soda, which owns Mary Jones cannabis and hemp beverages.
Visit https://www.hempbeveragealliance.org/members for a complete list of Hemp Beverage Alliance members.
EDUCATION IS CRITICAL TO INDUSTRY SUCCESS
The Hemp Beverage Alliance is developing materials and programming to educate consumers, retailers and distributors about the products, current regulatory patchwork, and best practices employed by Alliance members.
“This is a brand new industry, and with that comes confusing and sometimes conflicting information about the products and where they can be sold,” said Paige Endsley, research and development lead for Living Juice and chairwoman of the Alliance’s education committee. “The Hemp Beverage Alliance is committed to educating consumers and retailers on what these drinks are, how they work, and how and where they should be sold.”
A PLANT DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND
The Hemp Beverage Alliance will work with cannabis companies, brands and trade associations to create a better understanding of how both industries can thrive.
One only needs to look at the alcohol industry to see a model for success. In states across the country, beer is sold in grocery stores while spirits are sold in liquor stores. The Hemp Beverage Alliance suggests a similar model: low-dose, hemp-derived THC beverages in conventional retail and higher-dose THC products available in dispensaries.
“A plant divided against itself cannot stand. It is only by working together that we can normalize responsible consumption and create a safe, sustainable marketplace for all cannabis products,” said Lackner.
FAIR ACCESS BEVERAGE ENVIRONMENTS
The Hemp Beverage Alliance envisions a future where safe, low-dose, hemp-derived THC products are available in restaurants, concerts, and other places where alcohol currently is the only option. The state of Minnesota is an excellent example of how this future will look.
“We commend Minnesota for creating smart legislation that encourages the production of safe, low-dose hemp products,” said Jason Dayton, co-founder of Minneapolis-based Trail Magic and Alliance member. “We hope other states will use this model as their North Star in developing similar legislation.”
ABOUT
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 mission 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.
###
Cannabis Drinks Expo
From our good friends (and Alliance member) Sorse Tech:
Heading to the Cannabis Drink Expos in San Francisco event on July 27 and Chicago on August 1? Be sure to check out a panel moderated by SōRSE VP of Business Development and Marketing and President of the Cannabis Beverage Association, Diana Eberlein, on Hemp Delta-9 – “Risk, Reward, and the Hemp D9 Opportunity.” Then, on August 4, Diana heads back to San Francisco for the Taste at LIFT Cannabis Expo where she'll be speaking on a panel discussing “The Delicious Future of Cannabis Food, Drink and Hospitality.” If you’re interested in talking with Diana and the team about infused beverages and our product offerings at any of these events, book a meeting here or shoot her an email -- diana@sorsetech.com!
Why MSOs should embrace hemp-derived delta-9 THC products
Adam Terry of CanTrip weighs in on why the cannabis/dispensary industry should embrace hemp-derived THC.
Hemp-derived delta-9 edibles create a pipeline opportunity: Make great brands that consumers can find at liquor stores, fall in love with and then seek out other cannabis products.
So, if I were the CEO of a cannabis MSO, I’d stop feeling threatened or fearful of this opportunity.
Read the whole thing at MJ Biz Daily.