Cannabis News

Beer Industry Trade Group Calls Out Hemp THC Sector’s ‘Bad Actors’ For Allegedly Marketing To Children

Published

1 month ago

November 8, 2025

admin

“You’ll never see a beer ad featuring Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.”

By Ana Radelat, MinnPost

The US beer industry is targeting makers of THC-infused drinks and edibles in a campaign that could have repercussions in Minnesota, the state that sparked a national explosion in sales of hemp-derived beverages.

The beer industry, which has seen declining sales — especially among younger consumers — has joined the marijuana industry. in seeking federal rule of THC-infused beverages, currently regulated only by state laws.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) recently shocked the hemp and THC beverage industries when he signed a letter to Congressional leaders with 38 other state attorneys general asking Congress to clarify the federal definition of hemp.

the letter said that “bad actors” have taken advantage of a “loophole” in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed the sale of potent, unregulated THC products that pose a threat to the general public and children in particular.

“Unless Congress acts, this gross distortion of the hemp provision in the 2018 Farm Bill will continue to fuel the rapid growth of an underserved industry that threatens public health and safety and undermines law enforcement nationwide,” the letter said.

At a recent Semafor-sponsored conference, Brian Crawford, CEO of the Beer Institute, a trade association that advocates for the industry, said beer is heavily regulated by federal agencies. He said brewers are subject to marketing, advertising and labeling regulations and must seek federal approval for their formulas.

Age restrictions are also strictly enforced, Crawford said, and the sale of beer to those under 21 is prohibited.

However, Crawford said there are no federal restrictions on THC-infused products. He said these “bad actors” in the THC drink and gummy industries are packaging and marketing products that appeal to children, including THC Nerd candies, which are ultra-high-potency THC edibles.

“You’ll never see a beer ad featuring Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny,” Crawford said.

“Natural Social Tonic”

An amendment passed in the House Agriculture Committee last year as a major Farm Bill consideration would change the federal definition of legal hemp to include only “natural, derived and non-intoxicating cannabinoids.”

This means that any cannabinoid manufactured outside of the hemp plant would be outlawed, criminalizing the production of hemp-based gummies, drinks and other edibles, as well as oils, soaps and other products made from hemp.

A Minnesota state law passed in 2022 allows the production and consumption of hemp-based edibles and other products. But the now stalled House Farm Bill’s hemp amendment would make these products illegal under federal law.

The partisan gridlock in Congress has made it unlikely that there would be a new Farm Bill this year. So the fight against THC-infused products has shifted to the agriculture spending bill, which Congress is likely to pass once the federal shutdown ends.

Jake Bullock, the maker of Cann THC drinks, which are marketed as “all natural social tonics,” said he joins Ellison and other state attorneys general in defending rules that prevent “bad actors” from making highly potent synthetic products and marketing THC-infused products to children.

But he also said overly broad regulations would hurt the $30 billion industry, which employs 330,000 Americans.

“We would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Cann told MinnPost.

Cann’s success represents exponential growth in the multi-billion dollar market for hemp-derived intoxicants.

Bullock said he started his business in Venice Beach, California, and then produced his drinks in Minnesota after the state passed a law allowing the sale of hemp-infused products.

Today, it sells its beverages in about 30 states and Cann products can be found in many liquor stores and other outlets in Minnesota. It recently joined Target.

“The reason consumers like the products is that they work like alcohol,” Bullock said. “If you like it, you can have another one an hour later.”

Bullock said drinking several cans of Cann can be intoxicating, but there is no hangover. He also said that many drinkers have reduced their alcohol consumption in favor of his drinks.

Bullock also said Gen Z favors their drink over alcohol because they socialize differently than older Americans and are less likely to spend money at bars.

The need to address “bad actors”.

The potency of a THC infused drink depends on how many milligrams of THC the product contains. State laws vary. In Minnesota, it is limited to no more than 10 milligrams. Other states are stricter. Virginia and Connecticut cover it at 2 milligrams.

However, Crawford said “bad actors” make drinks with as much as 200 milligrams of THC “in a 12-ounce can.”

“That needs to be addressed,” he said.

Bullock, who also spoke at the Semafor event, told MinnPost that he would support lowering the THC level nationally to about 5 milligrams. He said eliminating synthetic THC was also fine, along with eliminating lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound in natural cannabis.

He said he believes Ellison has been “misled” into signing a letter asking Congress to “act decisively in the (2018) Farm Bill to clarify the definition of hemp to ensure that intoxicating THC products are taken off the market.”

Analysts say that would kill Minnesota’s market for THC-infused beverages and edibles.

Ellison attempted to clarify his position in a headline statement “Protecting Minnesota’s THC Industry”. In it, Ellison said he did no He wants a ban on all THC-infused products, but has sought federal regulations “to help out-of-state companies ignore Minnesota’s carefully crafted THC rules and sell harmful products in our state.”

“Minnesota’s legalization of edible THC was smart and safety-conscious, and unfortunately the loophole created by the federal government is anything but,” Ellison wrote. “As a result, there are very strong THC products coming into Minnesota that are marketed to children, and I’m not going to stop out-of-state businesses from preying on young Minnesotans.”

However, public comments on the attorney general’s statement indicated that the letter he signed would also ban intoxicating THC-infused products and outlaw a lucrative industry in Minnesota.

“The letter you signed explicitly calls for a ‘ban on products with intoxicating levels of THC, of any kind and no matter how it’s derived,'” wrote one commenter. Your letter would undo all the good work done by Minnesota lawmakers over the past five years, recriminalize access to THC for people who want to get over alcohol, and crack down on one of the few brewers.

While the beer industry may seek a crackdown on THC beverages, small brewers, facing a shrinking market, are increasingly getting involved in the hemp beverage market by creating alcohol-free THC-infused beverages.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, is asking Congress to delay any changes for 18 months in order to conduct a comprehensive study on the best ways to regulate the hemp industry.

It’s unclear how Paul’s congressional colleagues will respond.

This the article appeared for the first time MinnPost and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

US (FL): Cannabis company countersues competitor for AI-fabricated extortion

Published

3 hours ago

December 9, 2025

admin

Leafwell Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against medical marijuana company My Florida Green, alleging that its competitor used artificial intelligence to make legal claims as part of an extortion scheme designed to harm Leafwell’s business. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court…

Cannabis News

Maine Officials Approve 2026 Ballot Initiative To Largely Repeal Marijuana Legalization Law For Signature Collection

Published

3 hours ago

December 9, 2025

admin

Maine officials have given permission to prohibition activists to begin gathering signatures for a proposal A ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law. The measure, if passed, would also overhaul the regulatory structure of the medical cannabis program by establishing product testing requirements.

The proposal — called the “Cannabis Legalization Act and Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act” — is a revamped version of a marijuana initiative introduced in September, sponsored by a Republican state senator and a former top staffer for then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), staunch prohibitionist.

The latest proposal, a petition approved by the Secretary of State on Monday, would remove and amend multiple sections of the current state statute, which voters approved in 2016 to effectively repeal the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.

Adults over the age of 21 would remain legal to possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis under the proposal, but a section of the law allowing home cultivation would be repealed. The sale and home cultivation of medical marijuana would be legal.

Madison Carey, who was listed as a lead petitioner in the original version of the repeal initiative and remains involved in the current campaign, told Marihuana Momenti on Tuesday that “there needs to be regulation of marijuana,” arguing that her own experience recovering from opioid misuse disorder speaks to the inadequacy of the current law.

“My hope is to raise awareness of the reality of the potential dangers of not having regulation,” he said. “I think people are fed up with the constant use — the constant (retail businesses) coming up where people can legally buy marijuana.”

Of course, repealing the voter-approved law that established the adult-licensed sales system would eliminate the current regulatory infrastructure in place, which reform advocates say helps mitigate public health and safety risks associated with the illegal market.

Rep. David Boyer (R), who led the fight to get a cannabis legalization initiative on Maine’s ballot in 2016 when he was a staff member at the Marihuana Policy Project, said voters should refuse to sign petitions for the new initiative.

“Don’t stop Maine’s progress, don’t stop signing this unfair repeal initiative,” he told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday. “Repealing the legalization of cannabis would shut down an industry larger than lobsters, potatoes and blueberries combined, costing our state jobs, revenue and economic growth.”

According to the new measure, the director of the Office of Cannabis Policy will “advance policies that promote the health and welfare of the people of the state and protect their health and safety, emphasizing the health and welfare of minors as a priority consideration in the performance of all duties.”

They should also “ensure that eligible patients maintain access to high-quality, effective, and affordable medical cannabis under this Act.”

Under the proposal, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services would create a testing program for cannabis products that would require dispensaries and dispensaries to send those products to a licensed facility for safety evaluation before dispensing them to qualified patients.

The testing facility “should ensure that cannabis or cannabis products do not exceed acceptable levels of contamination for any contaminants that are harmful to health and require testing and ensure proper labeling.”

“The department shall adopt rules establishing a testing program under this section, rules identifying the types of pollutants harmful to health, which must be tested for cannabis and cannabis products under this chapter, and rules regarding the maximum level of contamination for each pollutant,” the vote said. the initiative the text says

Additionally, regulators should administer a system to track cannabis plants from seed to the point of retail sale or disposal. That system “should be able to track cannabis plants in groups during the cultivation phase and when passing from the cultivation phase to another registrar”.

Entrepreneurs must submit at least 67,682 valid voter signatures by February 2, 2026 to be eligible for next year’s ballot. If approved by voters, the initiative would take effect on January 1, 2028.

—
It’s Marijuana Moment tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Maine lawmakers passed a bill in June legalize possession of an ounce of psilocybin Adults over 21 years of age.

After a different effort in the state last year legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic in state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—instead, they changed it to create a committee to study further reforms—and in the end it was not approved.

Meanwhile, Maine legislators in February A top marijuana official voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest.

And last year, the law that allowed people came into force now apply for legal marijuana crime records to be sealed.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

By concentrating our portfolio, we create room for innovation and growth

Published

1 day ago

December 8, 2025

admin

Viscon transfers the range fork product portfolio to Flier

Viscon Plant Technology will transfer its spacer fork product portfolio (including spacer forks and fixed forks) to Flier Systems effective January 1, 2026.

“The furrows are a proven solution for spacing within the sector. By transferring this portfolio to Flier Systems, the technology will remain available to both existing and new customers, with continued quality and support. Flier Systems will take over development, sales and technical service, while Viscon Plant Technology focuses on its core activities,” the team says.

“The transfer of the fields is a deliberate strategic step to strengthen our focus on automation solutions for plant growers and young breeders. In addition to concentrating our portfolio on technologies such as tissue culture automation, phenotypic sorting and somatic embryogenesis automation, we create room for further innovation and growth. We are pleased to have found a reliable and dedicated partner in Flier Systems,” said Nigela, who will continue the same product portfolio. Viscon Plant Technology.

“Acquiring spacer forks fits perfectly into our strategy to automate the entire production process for professional plant growers. Having just introduced the upgraded SPH transplanter/sorter, we have already taken an important step in the automation of potted plants. Acquiring spacer forks is a logical addition as it allows us to offer a complete and integrated package. Viscon,” said Ad Kranendonk, Flier Systems.