Hemp Beverage Alliance’s comments to FDA mentioned in Marijuana Moment
The industry is taking notice of our position on hemp-derived cannabinoids. We look forward to continuing the discussion with regulators, brands, distributors and other stakeholders.
Scroll down to the bottom to see our mention in this roundup from Marijuana Moment.
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance submitted comments to congressional committees about regulating CBD.”
Hemp Beverage Alliance in Cannabis Regulator
Cannabis Regulator published a story about our letter to Congress to have TTB regulate hemp-derived THC beverages.
Hemp Beverage Alliance in Jamestown Post Journal
Western New York media weighed in on our suit against the New York Office of Cannabis Management. Read the full article here.
Alliance to Congress: TTB should regulate THC
(DENVER) — Low-dose, hemp-derived THC beverages should be regulated by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), according to the Hemp Beverage Alliance.
In response to Congress' request for information about regulating CBD as a food and dietary supplement, the Alliance suggests two separate pathways for hemp-derived CBD and THC:
CBD is a non-impairing compound and should be allowed to be incorporated into food and dietary supplements and be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
THC has the potential to impair. Beverages containing potentially impairing levels of THC legally derived from hemp should be regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
While CBD is a valuable cannabinoid with tremendous potential, it is the low-dose, hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and full spectrum products that truly are in demand by the American consumer.
Since its legalization in the 2018 Farm Bill, low-dose hemp-derived full spectrum beverages have been embraced by adult consumers seeking relaxation and relief.
This is where the hemp marketplace is poised for significant growth, and this is where Congress has the opportunity to support farmers, small businesses, veterans, seniors, and countless others who benefit from the production, distribution, sale and consumption of regulated, hemp-derived products.
The Alliance also encourages Congress to:
Appropriate funding to TTB to develop a regulatory framework for beverages infused with THC derived from legal hemp.
Appropriate funding to TTB to develop programs to educate distributors, retailers, state regulators and the general public about hemp-derived THC beverages. Educational programs should emphasize safety, responsible consumption, and the restriction of products to adults aged 21 years or older.
Develop a framework to tax hemp-derived THC beverages in a manner similar to alcohol. This will benefit taxpayers and provide funding for market regulation and oversight.
Encourage uniformity in labeling requirements among the states. This will empower consumers and free beverage companies from onerous, state-by-state requirements.
Work with the hemp beverage industry to create a sensible, thriving, safe industry. Together, we can create a strong hemp beverage marketplace that protects children, creates jobs, stimulates local economies, and provides adult consumers with products they enjoy and demand.
"Adult consumers throughout the country want low-dose THC products that are safe, effective, age-restricted, and available where they buy alcohol," said Christopher Lackner, executive director, Hemp Beverage Alliance. "TTB is the right agency to create a sensible framework that grows the industry and keeps these products away from children."
Click here to read the full response to Congress' RFI.
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 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, boosting consumer confidence; 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.
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Hemp beverages create community. That why he's creating a hemp beverage company.
A few years ago, Texas entrepreneur Brian Hart noticed how society was becoming less connected, especially as the pandemic wore on.
"I spent three and a half years traveling around the world and the one thing that became clear was a decline in community and communication here in America," said Hart. "It's something I think is really missing. And it's something I want to change,"
Brian's travels throughout Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia and Europe was punctuated by shared experiences with strangers, young and old, who connected with him via the plant.
"You go around the world and enjoy cannabis with people, and I really feel it breaks down barriers. It creates shared experiences that deeply connect people," said Hart. "And so I thought, 'If I can create a product that makes the world just a little bit better, that would mean the world to me.’"
A businessman at heart (his MBA thesis focused on a neoclassical economic modular analysis of the Colorado cannabis industry), Brian ultimately identified hemp beverages as the industry that could achieve this goal. Although the product he affectionately calls “Project V” is still in development, he already has plans for working with community groups to help people connect.
“If I can create a product that makes the world just a little bit better, that would mean the world to me.”
Brian Hart, Hemp Beverage Alliance member
"Loneliness and mental health are a part of many big issues in our society. It's at a crisis level," said Hart. "That's why I'm going to donate 10% of my inventory to community groups that bring people together and help us regain that sense of community that we all miss."
Brian says he decided to focus on hemp instead of cannabis because "the hemp beverage industry seems to have endless possibilities, not only because of its legal status [under the 2018 Farm Bill] but because the market size is so much larger than cannabis."
And since becoming a member of the Hemp Beverage Alliance in July 2023, Brian is already seeing success in creating community and connections within the industry.
"Alliance members work together to create an industry that is solid and safe. I even have a blossoming mentor relationship with a guy who many would consider my competition. But right now, we're all interested in building each other up."
To learn more about Brian Hart, visit his LinkedIn page.
Hemp Beverage Alliance in MG Magazine
MG Magazine picked up our press release about our efforts in New York. Read the whole thing here.
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.