WASHINGTON, D.C. 04/07/2025 – This week, America’s family-owned wine and spirits wholesalers will convene in Washington, D.C., for a legislative conference and to meet with lawmakers regarding the evolving federal regulatory landscape for hemp-derived intoxicating products, with a particular focus on hemp-derived beverages.
As the hemp industry continues to expand under the auspice of the 2018 Farm Bill, clarifying a federal regulatory landscape remains critical for businesses, consumers, and public safety as hemp-derived intoxicating products pervade retail shelves across the country.
READ MORE: THE 2018 FARM BILL & THE RISE OF HEMP-DERIVED THC
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) members will engage in constructive dialogues with Members of Congress, their staff and federal agencies, emphasizing the need for a well-defined regulatory framework that applies principles from nearly a century of safe, effective alcohol distribution to ensures product safety, consumer transparency, and fair market conditions.
“Hemp-derived beverages represent an exciting and rapidly growing category, but without clear federal oversight, the industry and consumers face significant challenges," said WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton. “WSWA believes the next Farm Bill should explicitly allow for the production of only naturally derived THC products from hemp (specifically Delta-9) while granting individual states primary authority to regulate distribution and retail sales, including the possibility of state-level prohibition, to consumers over the age of 21 within their own borders.”
During the fly-in, association members will highlight key policy priorities, including a distribution system based on the sound principles of alcohol distribution:
Establishing a prohibition on synthetic hemp-derived THC intoxicating products.
Establishing federal standards for testing and labeling hemp-derived beverages.
Establishing state authority to regulate distribution and retail sales.
WSWA urges policymakers to take action to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for hemp-derived intoxicating products and welcomes collaboration with lawmakers in shaping policies that balance safety, innovation, and economic opportunity.