Hemp Beverage Alliance in Shanken Daily News
Shanken Daily News asked hemp beverage industry stakeholders to weigh in on the 2023, 2024, 2025 Farm Bill. Here’s what the Hemp Beverage Alliance had to say:
“A hemp-friendly Farm Bill will be important not just for our industry but also for American farmers. We hope Congress will agree on legislation that protects or enhances the definition of hemp. In addition to the Farm Bill, there also will be a lot of work going on at the state level in 2025. The Hemp Beverage Alliance will be working in a lot of those states to encourage commonsense legislation that protects children, creates tax revenues, creates opportunities for the bev-alc industry and allows the hemp beverage space to thrive.”
Statement on the Beer Institute’s guiding principles for hemp beverages.
(DENVER) - The Hemp Beverage Alliance, the leading trade association of the hemp beverage industry with more than 240 members in the U.S. and Canada, today issued the following statement regarding the Beer Institute’s guiding principles on hemp beverages.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance fully supports the Beer Institute’s calls for smart regulation of the hemp beverage industry. As the trade association for the industry representing more than 240 suppliers and supply chain partners, we firmly agree hemp beverages should be age-gated and available only to adults age 21 and over; state regulations should include testing for contaminants and milligram levels; labels should be accurate and include appropriate information to empower consumers; marketing geared toward people younger than 21 years of age should be prohibited; and alcohol and hemp should not be mixed in a product.
We also agree consumers should not operate vehicles if they are intoxicated by any beverage or product, and that a reasonable tax structure should be created for hemp beverages to provide regulators with the resources they need to protect public health.
Hemp beverages are adult beverages, just like beer, wine, hard seltzer and other alcoholic products. As such, the Hemp Beverage Alliance believes hemp beverages should be sold in locations where other adult beverages are available, and distributed via existing alcohol channels.
Alcohol retailers already are equipped with the processes and infrastructure to keep these products away from children. Alcohol distributors already have the means to vet suppliers, review labels for compliance, and gather taxes for adult beverages. Just as importantly, consumers are already familiar with, comfortable with, and trusting of the existing beverage alcohol system.
Whether it's hard seltzer, hard teas, canned cocktails or hemp drinks, adult consumers want access to the latest innovations in the places where they currently shop for adult beverages.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance applauds the Beer Institute's dedication to safety, quality, and moderation, and is using their success as a guiding star for the category to replicate and enhance. We look forward to working with all adult beverage suppliers, distributors, retailers and other stakeholders to build a hemp beverage category that emphasizes quality, safety and transparency.
About the Hemp Beverage Alliance
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.
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Submit your comments to the Georgia Department of Agriculture
As we discussed this week, HBA will be submitting comments to the Georgia Department of Agriculture regarding their revised rules for hemp beverages.
We strongly encourage HBA members (and non-members) to amplify our recommendations by submitting comments of your own that 1) reflect your perspective and 2) encourage the solutions proposed by HBA.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Click here for suggested language and copy/paste it into an email.
At the beginning of the message, add a sentence or two about your personal/professional experience, concerns, commitment to safety, etc. The more you can personalize/tell your own story, the better. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Suppliers - How are you making quality products and marketing them in a responsible manner?
Retailers - How are customers reacting when they hear about this new product?
Distributors - How will hemp beverages help your business?
Supply chain - How are you taking steps to make sure products are safe and of the highest possible quality?
Once you’ve added your personal message, send your message to: hemp@agr.georgia.gov Please note: If you do not include a personal touch to the email, you can still just send it as is. The important thing is that you send it out in a timely manner.
WHEN TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Do not delay in sending your comments. Please make this a priority and send as soon as possible. In a perfect world, you’d send out your comments shortly after we submit our comments on November 14.
The deadline to submit comments is 4:30p eastern time on November 21.
WHY YOU SHOULD SUBMIT COMMENTS
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is very interested in the hemp beverage industry’s recommendations. Our conversations with them indicate that they will be receptive to what we have to say.
If we collectively support common solutions, there is a greater chance that they will be implemented.
The rule-making process is an important part of the process but it only works when we all participate.
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT COMMENTS
Public comments are open to everyone. You don’t need to be part of the industry to make a comment. That said,
Everyone who is in the industry absolutely should take a moment to make a comment.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Visit https://agr.georgia.gov/legal/notice-intent-amend-and-adopt-hemp-product-rules
Hit up our #georgia Slack channel
Email HBA for more information
Discussions on THC and Beer Dominate NBWA’s 87th Annual Event.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance had the honor of presenting to the national gathering of the National Beer Wholesalers Association last week. Beverage Dynamics picked up the story here. From the article:
“The state-by-state changes are significant and it’s something that we’re always looking at,” he said. “I think all of our brands recognize the value of having these products in retail environments, especially next to their competitors. There is a huge growth opportunity for brick-and-mortar distribution.”
Pacific Hemp Beverage Summit
HBA members in the PNW are hosting the Pacific Hemp Beverage Summit in Bend, Oregon. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler welcomed the group, Sen. Wyden provided the keynote address, and this afternoon is packed with industry leaders and regulators from around the country.
Click here for a preview story from the local news.
Submit your comments to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance today submitted comments to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regarding their proposed comments for hemp beverages.
We strongly encourage HBA members (and non-members) to amplify our recommendations by submitting comments of your own that 1) reflect your perspective and 2) encourage the solutions proposed by HBA.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Click here for suggested language and copy/paste it into an email.
At the beginning of the message, add a paragraph or two about your personal/professional experience, concerns, commitment to safety, etc. The more you can personalize/tell your own story, the better. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Suppliers - How are you making quality products and marketing them in a responsible manner?
Retailers - How are customers reacting when they hear about this new product?
Distributors - How will hemp beverages help your business?
Supply chain - How are you taking steps to make sure products are safe and of the highest possible quality?
Once you’ve added your personal story, send your message via this portal:
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=5K-4.034Please note: If you do not include a personal touch to the email, you can still just send it as is. The important thing is that you send it out in a timely manner.
WHEN TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Do not delay in sending your comments. Please make this a priority and send as soon as possible. In a perfect world, you’d send out your comments shortly after we submit our comments on October 9.
The deadline to submit comments is October 16..
WHY YOU SHOULD SUBMIT COMMENTS
The regulations by the Department will have a significant, negative impact on our industry.
If we collectively support common solutions, there is a greater chance that our recommendations will be considered.
Rule-making is an important part of the process but it only works when we all participate.
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT COMMENTS
Public comments are open to everyone. You don’t need to be part of the industry to make a comment. That said:
Everyone who is in the industry absolutely should take a moment to make a comment.
CAN I GIVE MY COMMENTS IN PERSON?
To our knowledge, there is not a public hearing scheduled for these rules.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Hit up our #florida Slack channel
Hemp Beverage Alliance in Benzinga.
We got.a nice shout out in Benzinga today re: our discussion with Pablo Zuanic last week. Thank you to all who participated and listened in. See you all at Benzinga's Cannabis Capital Conference tomorrow! The #futureofdrinking is #hempinfused.
What is the future of hemp?
The Hemp Beverage Alliance participated in a virtual roundtable discussion moderated by Pablo Zuniac of Zuniac & Associates. Participants discussed the Farm Bill, the Wyden Bill, and current trends in hemp product manufacturing and distribution.
Click here to watch & listen on YouTube.
A hemp beverage ban in California would be catastrophic
Members of the Hemp Beverage Alliance were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about the proposed emergency ban in California. Click here to read the LA Times story.
In addition to interviewing members, the story highlighted the Hemp Beverage Festival and Conference we held back in June.
Some states have embraced the trend. In Minnesota, one projection estimates hemp drinks could eventually generate $200 million per year in sales. The state has enacted registration and testing requirements. A hemp beverage festival in Minneapolis in June allowed members of the public to sample dozens of brands. "No smoking," read the flier.
If you can’t get through the paywall, the story has been picked up by the Walla-Walla Union Bulletin.
Hemp Beverage Alliance comments on proposed emergency regulations in California.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance is the trade association representing more than 175 beverage brands and supply chain partners in the United States and Canada.
The Alliance submitted comments to the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and the Department of Public Health (CDPH) urging OAL to deny CDPH’s proposed emergency regulations on hemp products.
Click here to read the Hemp Beverage Alliance’s comments.
Since its founding in 2023, the Hemp Beverage Alliance and its members have advocated and instituted best practices that have resulted in a safe, thriving industry across the country. These principles include:
Age restriction - Hemp beverages are adult beverages and are labeled and sold accordingly. Hemp beverages are overwhelmingly sold in locations where adult beverages are sold, which means they are age-gated to prevent children from accessing them. Many packages include a 21+ logo or equivalent information to alert consumers that these are adult beverages. Suppliers, wholesalers and retailers all are committed to age-gating these products.
Safety - The safety of the consumer is paramount and is the driving force in the industry. Hemp beverages are made in certified facilities and adhere to best practices in manufacturing.
Testing - Products are thoroughly tested throughout the production process to ensure the absence of contaminants as well as accurate cannabinoid levels.
Labeling - Hemp beverage labels empower the consumer to make smart choices. Labels include appropriate warnings, cannabinoid milligram counts, listings of total ingredients, a QR code that refers consumers to testing data, and information to easily contact the company.
Serving size - Hemp beverages incorporate cannabinoid levels that are safe, effective, and provide value to the consumer.
Hemp beverages are non-alcoholic seltzers, teas, sodas and mocktails infused with hemp-derived cannabinoids that are increasing in popularity among responsible adults.The Hemp Beverage Alliance advocates several best practices to steer this new industry, including ensuring products are kept away from children; clear labeling that empowers the consumer; reasonable taxation; and sensible milligram levels in products.
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 marijuana and alcohol industries to create a marketplace that benefits everyone. More at hempbeveragealliance.org.