HEMP / LEGISLATION
Hemp THC Drinks in 2026: What Congress Is Considering
A short update on Farm Bill hemp drinks, federal restrictions, and proposals to keep regulated beverages available.
Hemp-derived THC seltzers, spirits, and cocktails grew under the 2018 Farm Bill’s hemp definition. But “Farm Bill compliant” is not a nationwide permission slip: federal food rules and state restrictions also matter.
What is changing?
Congress passed a narrower hemp definition in 2025. It excludes finished cannabinoid products containing more than 0.4 mg per container of combined total THC and other cannabinoids with similar effects. That is far below the THC content of many drinks sold today.
A September 2026 funding law delayed much of that change until December 11, 2026. Certain exclusions, including for cannabinoids the plant cannot naturally produce, still begin November 12. The delay is temporary, not a permanent fix. [1]
Which bills should drink fans watch?
H.R. 10079, the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, proposes a federal framework specifically for hemp-derived beverages, with manufacturing, testing, labeling, and distribution requirements. It would exempt qualifying beverages from the new per-container cap. It is a proposal, not an enacted exemption. [2]
H.R. 7024, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, proposes a longer delay to the hemp-definition changes. Its Senate companion is S. 3686. A delay and a beverage regulatory framework serve different purposes; neither should be described as already protecting today’s drinks. [3]
Contact Congress
If you want a regulated path for adult hemp beverages, tell your representative and senators. Mention the bills above and ask for clear rules on age limits, testing, labeling, and serving sizes.
Find and contact your representative
Sources and bill tracking
- Congressional Research Service: Changes to the Statutory Definition of Hemp (September 28, 2026)
- H.R. 10079: official introduced bill · Track on Congress.gov
- H.R. 7024: official introduced bill · Track on Congress.gov
Reviewed October 7, 2026. This is a dated overview; check official bill records for subsequent changes.