Welcome Note

Welcome back Gardeners!

The Free Spirits Podcast with David Gonzalez and myself is back for Season 2 and episode 4 dropped this week with Angus Rittenburg and we might discuss their latest product drop!

So be sure to subscribe and rate/review the show! It really does help us grow!

You can find us on Youtube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!

I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter

And as always, my email is open!

-Lars

Any comments or questions? Leave comment on this post or shoot me an email. Would love to hear from you!

News Round Up

This week, the regulatory noise became a chorus.

While beverage execs knocked on D.C. doors to push for reasonable rules, state lawmakers moved in the opposite direction—proposing bans, limiting distribution, or shifting oversight under alcohol boards. At the same time, Tilray showed exactly how bullish big players still are on this space.

Let’s get into it.

🏛️ Federal and State Regulation: Who Gets to Decide?

WSWA Advocates for Federal Oversight

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America brought its Capitol Hill Fly-In this week, arguing that hemp-derived intoxicating drinks should be regulated like alcohol. Their pitch? Treat these like adult-use products with all the safety, tax, and distribution rules that alcohol follows.

→ Read more

Hemp Beverage CEOs Say: Not So Fast

Executives from leading beverage brands and others met with lawmakers to push back. Their take? These drinks aren’t alcohol, shouldn’t be treated like alcohol, and deserve their own regulatory framework.

→ Read more

This tension is the industry’s defining question right now.

Are these drinks closer to beer or kombucha? Will regulation reflect function or form? The way policymakers answer that is going to define who thrives, and who exits.

🚨 State Crackdowns: The Whiplash Continues

Texas House Advances Bill Targeting THC Products

Texas lawmakers voted to ban most hemp-derived THC products, including edibles and vapes—but explicitly excluded beverages, which would remain legal and fall under alcohol-style regulation.

→ Express-News

Alabama Bill Would Hand Oversight to ABC Board

A new proposal would move THC/CBD beverage sales under the state’s alcohol authority.

→ AL.com

Florida Senate Passes Hemp Regulation Bill (Unanimously)

A rare moment of unity: Florida senators passed a sweeping regulation bill for hemp products, with full bipartisan support.

→ Florida Phoenix

Kentucky Advances Limits on Infused Beverages

Lawmakers in Kentucky took a step toward placing restrictions on cannabis-infused drinks.

→ WDRB

North Carolina Senate Prepares Its Own Regulations

North Carolina’s gearing up to propose formal rules on THC drinks in the coming weeks.

→ WBTV

Fragmentation is the real threat here.

Obviously no one wants bans, but 50 different playbooks isn’t helping anyone either. That kind of regulatory chaos makes it harder for brands to scale, secure investment, and plan for the long haul.

💸 Big Bets and Market Moves

Tilray’s Betting on Beverages (Again)

Despite declining cannabis sales, Tilray is holding the line on drinks. Their Q3 earnings pointed to growing demand, especially in states where cannabis is either illegal or limited but hemp drinks fill the gap.

→ MarketWatch

→ Tilray Q3 Results

InsightAce Predicts Market Growth Through 2030

New projections from InsightAce suggest that demand for CBD and hemp-based beverages will continue to climb steadily, driven by health-conscious consumers and category innovation.

→ Read more

Happy Duck Expands via Kansas Distribution Deal

The low-dose hemp beverage brand just partnered with Worldwide Beverage Group to expand availability in Kansas—a state with no adult-use program, but growing demand.

→ Read more

🧃 Local Flavor & Cultural Collabs

Jester King Brewery Launches Tripping Springs

Austin’s beloved farmhouse brewery just entered the hemp drink space with Tripping Springs, a low-dose beverage that plays up the local story. It’s a bet that Texan identity can coexist with cannabis culture—even as the state legislature tries to shut the category down.

→ Read more

Cheech & Chong x Rolling Loud: Pit Punch Drops

A new branded THC beverage, Pit Punch, is launching as the official drink of Rolling Loud—the world’s largest hip-hop festival.

→ Read more

Until Next Week

The regulatory tug-of-war is messy—but that’s part of growth. If you’re building in this space, the next 6 months will tell you everything about where you stand. Don’t wait for perfect clarity. Make moves anyway.

📰 Got news? Submit it here! 📰

Any other questions or inquiries you can respond to this email or DM me on Twitter 

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