717-703-0804
“Dear Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer,
On behalf of the 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 vintners, we write to align our respective organizations with 39 state Attorneys General in calling for a federal legislative solution to address the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products. Our respective organizations produce virtually all the beer, distilled spirits, and wine available in every state and congressional district across the country, representing some of the world’s most valuable consumer brands.
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 FDA has consistently warned consumers about the safety risks associated with these products.
The rhetoric surrounding this issue is unfortunate. Certain entities, including some within the beverage alcohol space, claim that any effort to rein in the sale of highly intoxicating hemp THC products is tantamount to “prohibition” or a “ban” that will adversely impact industrial hemp farmers or even products that contain non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD). The letter dated October 24, 2025, from 39 state Attorneys General reiterates that Congressional action to address intoxicating hemp products “…will not inhibit the cultivation of hemp for industrial and agricultural uses since hemp does not contain intoxicating levels of THC.”
Last month, the Community Anti–Drug Coalitions of America, backed by 81 public health, law enforcement, medical, and consumer protection organizations, emphasized that the growing market of hemp-derived intoxicants “has created serious challenges for regulators and public-health officials, while fueling widespread, largely unmonitored sales of highly intoxicating products.”
Manufacturers of beverage alcohol, one of the most highly regulated consumer products, urge Congress to act immediately to remove hemp-derived THC products from the marketplace until a robust federal regulatory framework is established. We stand ready to work with Congress and the Administration to enact regulations that protect consumers and ensure a safe, orderly marketplace for these intoxicating products.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.”
