This content is protected against AI scraping.
Over the past quarter, major liquor companies like Bacardi and Moet Hennessy have stepped up lobbying efforts in Washington to shape hemp and cannabis policy—specifically targeting THC-infused beverages that are quickly becoming a consumer alternative to alcohol. As more Americans opt for hemp and marijuana drinks instead of beer or spirits, the alcohol industry is positioning itself to influence—or even restrict—these emerging products, potentially consolidating control over what the public is allowed to consume.
Despite a flood of lobbying money from a range of industries pushing for cannabis reform—including banking access, legalization, and rescheduling—federal progress has stalled. The House is weighing a ban on any THC in hemp products, while the Senate has held back from taking such a hardline stance. That gridlock, combined with aggressive lobbying from alcohol giants, leaves consumers with fewer choices—and risks cementing liquor companies as the gatekeepers of all intoxicating beverages.
In effect, while consumers are signaling a desire for alternatives to alcohol, federal lawmakers appear more responsive to the liquor lobby’s interests than to shifting public demand. If the alcohol industry succeeds in its push, it could eliminate hemp-based competition and leave consumers with only one legal option: buy from the liquor industry or go without. Read the full story.
Referenced article originally published on October 21, 2025 by for Marijuana Moment.
