When national cannabis outlets need a founder's perspective on the future of hemp-derived THC beverages, they keep calling Minnesota. This week, GreenState — the cannabis news platform published by Hearst — featured 23rd State founder Leah Kollross in its coverage of the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, a new bipartisan bill that could give THC drinks a regulated lane of their own just weeks before the federal hemp ban takes effect.
For a Minnesota-born brand built on transparency, lab-tested products, and real-world research, being asked to weigh in on the most consequential beverage legislation of the year is more than a press mention. It's a signal that the voices shaping federal hemp policy include the small, founder-led companies that built this category in the first place.
What the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act Would Do
Introduced this week by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act would carve hemp-derived THC beverages out of the sweeping federal restrictions scheduled to hit the hemp industry this fall. Rather than banning the category, the bill would regulate it — borrowing a framework the country already knows well: alcohol.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- 21+ sales only, with strict advertising restrictions designed to keep marketing away from children
- Mandatory product testing and labeling standards
- A three-tier distribution system modeled on the alcohol industry
- THC limits of 5 milligrams per serving
- A prohibition on synthetically derived cannabinoids
- A federal excise tax tied to the amount of intoxicating THC in each product
- Preserved state authority to impose stricter regulations or prohibit hemp beverages entirely
The stakes are enormous. THC beverage sales topped $1.1 billion in 2025, according to Whitney Economics — a category that barely existed five years ago, now stocked in liquor stores, bottle shops, and restaurants across the country. If you've ever wondered how these drinks became legal in the first place, our guide to why hemp-derived drinks are legal breaks down the 2018 Farm Bill foundation in plain language.
Leah Kollross: Encouraged, With Questions Worth Asking
GreenState editor Rachelle Gordon turned to Kollross for the founder's-eye view — and her response captured both the optimism and the clear-eyed pragmatism that small brands are bringing to this debate.
Kollross told GreenState she feels encouraged by the legislation, saying, "I think it is heading in the right direction." At the same time, she pointed to details that still need refinement in committee — including how serving sizes are defined and what a federal three-tier distribution mandate would mean for the small, founder-led brands that built the category.
Serving-size definitions matter more than they might sound. Today's hemp beverage market spans everything from 2.5mg microdose options to 10mg full-strength cans, and how Congress defines a "serving" will shape what stays on shelves. For a primer on how the industry currently thinks about this question, see our guide to how many milligrams count as a THC drink serving and our breakdown of THC drink potency and effects.
Kollross also spoke to the urgency facing thousands of small operators as congressional deadlines approach. With lawmakers weighing a funding measure that would delay the hemp ban by roughly one month, she noted, "That's a very short runway, and thousands of small businesses are living on it."
The Clock Is Ticking: November 12 and Section 781
The backdrop to all of this is Section 781, the provision tucked into last year's federal appropriations law that redefines hemp at the federal level. Without congressional action, the new definition takes effect November 12, 2026 — a change that would remove most intoxicating hemp products, including the vast majority of THC drinks on the market today, from federal legality.
There is movement. As GreenState reports, Congress is debating a government spending measure that would push the most disruptive provisions back to December 11 — a 30-day reprieve, not a rescue. That short window is exactly why bills like the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act matter: they offer a permanent regulatory home for the category rather than another countdown clock.
Industry advocates believe the timeline is workable. Christopher Lackner, president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance — of which 23rd State is a member — told GreenState the bill gives Congress a sensible pathway to regulate the category, and expressed confidence it can pass this year, particularly if the one-month delay becomes law. He emphasized that the legislation addresses the concerns most often raised about hemp beverages: keeping products away from children, preventing youth-targeted marketing, and ensuring rigorous testing and accurate labeling.
What This Means for THC Drink Consumers
If you're one of the millions of adults who have made hemp-derived THC beverages part of your routine — as an alcohol alternative at happy hour, a low-dose option for social occasions, or simply a better way to unwind — here's the practical takeaway:
Nothing changes today. Compliant hemp-derived THC drinks remain legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, and you can still find them where you always have. Our guide to where to buy THC drinks covers the current landscape, and our Delta-9 beverage explainer walks through what makes these products federally compliant in the first place.
The next few months matter. Between the November 12 deadline, the proposed December 11 extension, and the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act's path through committee, the regulatory framework for this entire category is being written right now. Consumers who value access to tested, labeled, adult-oriented THC beverages have a genuine stake in the outcome — and contacting your representatives about the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act is one concrete way to be heard.
Buy from brands that will still be here. Regulatory uncertainty rewards the operators who have always done things the right way: third-party lab testing, transparent COAs, accurate labeling, and 21+ marketing. That's been 23rd State's approach since day one, validated by independent data from the MoreBetter Real-World Infused Beverage Study.
Why This Feature Matters
National coverage like this GreenState feature reflects something we're proud of: 23rd State's voice in the hemp policy conversation is earned. From advocacy work with national trade organizations to standing up for the category in federal litigation, Leah and the 23rd State team have consistently shown up for the small businesses, farmers, and consumers who depend on a fair, science-based regulatory framework for hemp beverages.
Our thanks to Rachelle Gordon and GreenState for including Minnesota's perspective in this important national story — and for continuing to cover hemp beverage policy with the depth it deserves. You can read the full article at GreenState.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act?
A bipartisan bill introduced in August 2026 by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) that would exempt compliant hemp-derived THC beverages from the upcoming federal hemp restrictions, regulating them instead through an alcohol-style framework: 21+ sales, mandatory testing, three-tier distribution, advertising safeguards, a synthetic cannabinoid ban, and a THC-based federal excise tax.
When does the federal hemp ban take effect?
The narrowed federal hemp definition under Section 781 is currently scheduled for November 12, 2026. A funding measure moving through Congress would delay the most disruptive provisions to December 11, 2026.
Would THC drinks stay legal under the bill?
Yes — compliant hemp-derived beverages would remain legal for adults 21+, with per-serving THC limits, testing requirements, and labeling standards. States could still impose stricter rules.
What did Leah Kollross say about the legislation?
She told GreenState she's encouraged and believes the bill is heading in the right direction, while flagging serving-size definitions and the three-tier mandate's impact on small, founder-led brands as details needing refinement in committee.
23rd State products are hemp-derived and intended for adults 21 and older. Individual results vary. Nothing in this article constitutes legal or health advice. Consumer experience data referenced comes from the MoreBetter Real-World Infused Beverage Study, an observational study of hemp-derived beverage consumers.
