Alcohol Industry Steps Up Lobbying On Hemp Drinks As Congress Debates THC Ban


The last three months have seen a surge in congressional lobbying from major alcohol companies and associations aiming to influence federal hemp laws, with a focus on THC beverages that many consumers are turning to as beer and liquor alternatives.

According to newly published lobbying disclosures from the 3rd quarter of 2025, a wide range of cannabis and alcohol interests put dollars toward various legislative issues, including marijuana banking, rescheduling, legalization and hemp regulations.

But there was an especially notable amount of lobbying activity around hemp THC beverages as Congress and state legislatures across the country discuss policy options for intoxicating cannabinoid products—with some pushing for an outright ban and others promoting a more rigorous regulatory framework that prioritizes public health and deterring youth access.

While it’s not unusual for alcohol interests to be among those disclosing lobbying around cannabis legislation, this latest quarter saw major brands such as Bacardi North America and Moet Hennessy USA join the action.

The summaries of their lobbying focus disclosed in the reports don’t specify their intent—or the amount of time, money and energy spent on this issue as opposed to others of concern—but the alcohol industry has shown increased interest in being part of the conversation around cannabis laws as they’ve seen more consumers gravitate toward marijuana and hemp instead of booze.

Beyond marijuana and alcohol industry stakeholders, the filings also reveal lobbying spending on cannabis issues from advocacy groups, government entities, non-cannabis corporations, financial institutions are more.

Some of the most notable players weighing in with Congress on cannabis issues last quarter include the office of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), Altria, Molson Coors, PayPal, DoorDash and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Here’s a look at some of the key interests that lobbied on cannabis policy last quarter:

Alcohol industry

  • ​Altria Client Services LLC: Discussions related to FDA Tobacco and Cannabis Product Enforcement Policy.
  • Anheuser-Busch Companies: Differentiation of beer from cannabis and hemp in tax and regulation; Differentiate beer from hemp
  • Bacardi North America: Regulation of hemp-derived THC products generally.
  • Beer Institute: Issues related to intoxicating hemp; Issues related to the regulation of Hemp.
  • Diaegeo North America: Definition of industrial hemp and legalization contained in 2018 Farm Bill Reauthorization (Pub. L. No. 115-334).
  • Distilled Spirits Council: Policies impacting treatment of hemp derived products
  • Moet Hennessy USA: beverage regulations pertaining to intoxicating hemp.
  • Molson Coors Beverage Company USA LLC: General Education on Regulation of Intoxicating Hemp Beverages
  • ​National Beer Wholesalers Association: Issues related to legal banking and effective regulation for cannabis products; Issues related to the legal status and regulation of cannabis, including industrial hemp and its derivative products; Issues related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the regulatory oversight of cannabidiol (CBD) products; S. 2113 – the HEMP Act – monitor status of legislation
  • Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc.: Intoxicating Hemp/ cannabis Policy Issues
  • Wine Institute: Cannabis and Hemp Oversight Proposals

Government entities

  • Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’s (D) office: cannabis rescheduling
  • National Association of State Treasurers: banking issues related to marijuana policies.

Non-cannabis corporations and associations

  • PayPal, Inc.: Issues related to cannabis banking, SAFE Banking Act
  • DoorDash, Inc: Matters related to general hemp issues
  • Convenience Distribution Association: Hemp related issues
  • American Civil Liberties Union: H.R. 5068-MORE Act-Issues Lobbied: Marijuana Decriminalization; Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act and Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act – marijuana decriminalization
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 5068)
  • American Council of Life Insurers: H.R.__/S. __ SAFE Banking Act – This bill would create protections for financial institutions that provide financial services to State-sanctioned marijuana businesses and service providers for such businesses. Issue: Cannabis legislation; S. __ – SAFER Banking Act – This bill would create protections for financial institutions that provide financial services to State-sanctioned marijuana businesses and service providers for such businesses. Issue: Cannabis legislation.
  • American Property Casualty Insurance Association: Marijuana Impairment Standard; Marijuana Research
  • Associated General Contractors of America: Marijuana use and protections for workplace safety and health
  • American Trucking Associations: DEA proposal for the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substance Act.
  • Credit Union National Association, Inc.: Issues related to marijuana banking
  • ​Community Bankers Association of Illinois: Federal Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses; Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, CBAI supports a federal safe harbor from sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related businesses (CRBs) and ancillary businesses that have commercial relationships with CBRs, in states where cannabis is legal. Allowing these businesses access to the traditional banking system and its services, versus operating exclusively in cash, is a public safety issue.
  • Michigan Credit Union League: While MCUL takes no position on the issue of cannabis legalization, it supports the introduction and passage of legislation that would provide a safe harbor for financial institutions to serve their members needs in states where cannabis use has become legal.
  • Real Estate Roundtable: Cannabis Issues, Safe Banking Act (H.R. 1595)
  • Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association: enactment of a safe harbor for insurers of state-legal cannabis businesses; Issues related to establishing a safe harbor for insurance companies to provide services to state-legal cannabis operations

Cannabis companies and associations

  • ​Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation (represented by former Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR): Issues pertaining to government-wide federal regulation of cannabis; H.R. 2934 STATES 2.0 Act
  • National Cannabis Roundtable: S.2860 – The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER Banking Act).
  • US Cannabis Council (represented by former Trump advisor Bryan Lanza): related to cannabis Industry
  • American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp: Treatment of hemp-derived intoxicants as related to farm bill and appropriations packages.
  • Hemp Beverage Alliance: Issues pertaining to the regulation of hemp products; Farm Bill; FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R.4121/S.2256).
  • U.S. Hemp Roundtable: Issues related to regulation of Hemp products; Issues related to provisions in the annual appropriations process that regulate Hemp.
  • Cresco Labs LLC: SAFER Banking, Banking Act, Section 2860, Issues related to cannabis laws and regulations.
  • Curaleaf, Inc: Proposals to create protections for depository institutions that provide financial services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and services for such businesses (SAFE Banking Act); Proposal to amend the Controlled Substances Act regarding marihuana, and other proposals and issues related to the legalization of cannabis; Tax issues relating to cannabis; Inclusion of cannabis employees in job reports.
  • Jushi Holdings Inc.: Issues related to closing the 2018 Farm Bill hemp loophole; H.R. 4121 – Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026;  S. 2256 -Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; The include LAW The rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
  • Trulieve Cannabis Corp.: Cannabis and cannabis related legislation, including SAFER Banking Act; Provide strategic counsel and advocate on issues regarding banking policy and regulation; medical marijuana policy and regulation
  • Verano Holdings, LLC: Controlled Substances Act; cannabis rescheduling; SAFE Banking Act; 280E taxation; Provide strategic counsel and advocate on issues related to SAFE Banking Act, other related tax issues, and cannabis rescheduling

Prohibitionists

  • Smart Approaches to Marijuana: The federal government’s role in enforcing marijuana laws, the legalization of marijuana; Closing the loophole for hemp Delta-8
  • SAM Action, Inc.: Advocating for a prohibition on hemp-derived intoxicants; Advocating against CCP-operating marijuana farms; Lobbying activities related to appropriations items including blocking marijuana rescheduling (CJS), creating an exception to the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment to allow the Department of Justice to enforce USC 860 (CJS), getting an investigation of the HHS marijuana rescheduling review (Ag/FDA and LHHS), recommending more research on high-potency marijuana (Ag/FDA and LHHS), preventing the advocation of illegal drug use in anti-impaired driving advertisements, encouraging federal action against false therapeutic claims made about marijuana, and prohibiting hemp intoxicants in in the Agriculture Appropriations bill; Lobbying related to support for the No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act (S.471/H.R.1447)

Miscellaneous

  • University of Mississippi: federal regulation of cannabis research

So far in 2025—despite the lobbying efforts that went into advancing cannabis issues on Capitol Hill—there’s been limited return on investment.

While congressional lawmakers have said they want to see a bipartisan marijuana banking bill pass this year, and President Donald Trump said in late August that a decision on rescheduling was imminent, those reforms have not come to fruition.

As far as hemp is concerned, the House and Senate have taken different approaches in their respective appropriations legislation, with the former advancing a bill that would ban hemp products containing any amount of THC and the latter omitting such language.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Become a patron at Patreon!



Source link

Back To Top