Washington, D.C., 06/12/2025 — Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) expressed strong disappointment following today’s decision by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee to advance FY2026 Agriculture–FDA Appropriations legislation with language that will potentially ban intoxicating hemp-derived products, including those containing naturally derived cannabinoids like Delta-9, commonly used in popular consumer beverages like seltzers and tonics.
“Proponents and opponents alike have agreed that this language amounts to a ban,” said WSWA President and CEO, Francis Creighton. “By pushing a rapidly evolving industry back into the shadows, Congress is creating even more chaos in the marketplace, undermining state initiatives and punishing responsible actors.”
WSWA warns that the bill’s language would:
- Create regulatory uncertainty and confusion for retailers, manufacturers, and consumers;
- Undercut the efforts of more than 30 state legislatures who have already considered at length or implemented their own frameworks;
- Fuel job loss and great economic harm to American business of all sizes; and
Do nothing to remove unregulated, unsafe products and actors from the marketplace.
“We urge the full House to reconsider this approach,” Creighton added. “States can regulate intoxicating products safely and effectively through systems that preserve consumer trust and public safety. It’s time for Congress to follow their lead, not override their authority.”
WSWA remains committed to working with lawmakers to build a thoughtful, federally regulated path forward for hemp-derived products rooted in the proven success of the three-tier system.