A group of alcohol industry associations have come out in support of a recent call to remove hemp-derived THC beverages from the marketplace until a stronger regulatory framework has been established.
Last week, 39 state attorneys general (AG) sent a letter to federal lawmakers, asking them to "clarify the federal definition of 'hemp,' which bad actors have exploited due to a perceived loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill."
Today, American Distilled Spirits Alliance (ADSA), Beer Institute (BI), Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS), Wine America, and Wine Institute, representing thousands of brewers, distillers and wine makers, shared a joint statement in support of that letter.
"As you know, the clear intention of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) was to reintroduce industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity, not to legalize an entirely new industry of highly intoxicating products. Unfortunately, the ambiguous language contained in the 2018 Farm Bill has been manipulated and exploited by certain actors, fueling the rapid growth of a largely unregulated market that is knowingly and willfully ignoring the Federal Drug Administration's (FDA's) position that the addition of intoxicating cannabinoids (like delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC) to food is illegal," the groups wrote. "The FDA has consistently warned consumers about the safety risks associated with these products."
Hemp-derived THC products have gained popularity while cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. Several of the largest multi-state cannabis operators including Trulieve and Curaleaf have embraced the product category while retailers like Target and Circle K have begun carrying the products in limited releases.
But states including California and Texas have pushed legislation to stop distribution of the products.
