Hemp Beverage Alliance Board Candidate: Ben Meggs of Bayou City Hemp
HBA will elect three members to the board of directors in June. Each candidate has been invited to post information about their candidacy for voters to review.
Elect Ben Meggs, CEO of Bayou City Hemp, to the HBA Board.
Bayou City Hemp is proud to support the candidacy of our CEO, Ben Meggs, for the Hemp Beverage Alliance Board of Directors. Bayou City Hemp has been operating since 2019, based in Texas, the largest hemp market in the country. From the beginning, our core focus has been hemp beverages.
We’ve built one of the most diverse and scalable beverage portfolios in the industry: single-serve 2oz shots, 12oz and 16oz cans, 750mL large-format bottles for at-home consumption, and kegs for on-premise sales. We oversee our manufacturing as well, making us one of the few truly vertically integrated hemp beverage brands in the country. Our distribution is also vast, spanning convenience, grocery, restaurants, bars, and event venues, providing practical insights into every tier of the market. Simply put, under Ben’s leadership, Bayou City has expanded its business footprint to touch practically every sector in hemp beverages.
Ben has also been instrumental in fighting against a blanket ban on all hemp products in Texas. Bayou has funded a full lobbying team in Austin this session, working closely on a regulatory bill with House leadership for months. Ben is now using his time, talents, and treasure to push for a veto from Governor Abbott while simultaneously lining up a lawsuit that impacts the entire industry in Texas. With Texas hanging in the balance, Ben will lead from the front to defend our industry in this critical state.
As a board member, Ben will bring the perspective of a founder who’s built a brand from the ground up, fought for the industry in the policy arena, and scaled hemp beverages across one of the most competitive markets in the country. He will work tirelessly to grow the Alliance, expand our influence, and ensure every member has a voice in shaping the future of our industry.
Vote Ben Meggs for the Hemp Beverage Alliance Board.
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Hemp Beverage Alliance Board Candidate: Elizabeth Anderson Schmidt of Flying Cloud THC Beverages
HBA will elect three members to the board of directors in June. Each candidate has been invited to post information about their candidacy for voters to review.
I’m Elizabeth, founder of Flying Cloud THC Beverages and Fat Pants Brewing Company—but more than that, I’m a small business owner just like many of you. I’ve bootstrapped my way through this industry, learned the hard lessons in real time, and built everything from the ground up without a playbook or a war chest of capital. My journey has included late nights, tough calls, and figuring out compliance while cleaning kegs.
Today, my businesses include a taproom, restaurant, and a growing THC beverage brand that’s reaching into multiple states—but I never forget where it started: scrappy, passionate, and fueled by belief in the purpose, product and the people behind it.
I’m running for the HBA board to be a voice for the small, medium, and emerging brands that make this industry dynamic—but often go unheard. Not everyone has deep pockets or lobbying connections. Many of us are learning in real time, navigating complex regulations while building trust with consumers and retail partners from scratch.
I bring a pragmatic, roll-up-your-sleeves approach to problem-solving, backed by real-world experience. I know what it’s like to secure compliant production, fight for shelf space, and explain cannabinoids to skeptical retailers—while managing cash flow, employees, and evolving laws.
As a board member, I will advocate for:
Regulatory clarity that allows all responsible operators—not just the biggest—to compete and grow.
Support structures that help emerging brands gain retail traction, navigate compliance, and scale sustainably.
Industry unity through transparency, inclusion, and amplification of voices across business sizes and backgrounds.
I believe the future of this industry is powered by innovation, integrity, and access. If elected, I’ll bring my full energy to ensuring HBA champions a fair, informed, and resilient path forward for everyone.”
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Hemp Beverage Alliance Board Candidate: Lance Blundell of cbdMD
HBA will elect three members to the board of directors in June. Each candidate has been invited to post information about their candidacy for voters to review.
Candidate Statement: Regulatory Leadership for a Stronger Hemp Beverage Industry
As General Counsel and Head of Business Development for cbdMD, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (YCBD), I bring hands-on experience navigating complex regulatory landscapes, both domestic and foreign, shaping policy, and leading multi-jurisdictional compliance strategies at the highest level of corporate governance. I believe this experience positions me uniquely to support the Hemp Beverage Alliance in advancing its mission through credible, effective engagement with regulators and lawmakers.
My background spans nearly two decades at the intersection of wellness innovation and public policy. I began my career in 2006 as a founding executive with BluCigs, where I helped pioneer the e-cigarette industry and worked directly with the FDA and state Attorney Generals on early regulatory issues. In 2009, I became legal and strategic lead for a multi-state cannabis operator active in California, Oregon, and Nevada—at a time when few legal roadmaps existed, and the regulations were constantly in flux.
In addition to my role at cbdMD, I recently served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Natural Products Association, the largest dietary supplement trade organization in the U.S. There, I supported national legislative efforts to promote access to safe, well-regulated hemp and cannabinoid products. I have also served in an advisory role to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and other hemp focused trade groups.
I have drafted legislation, worked directly with legislators and staff, testified before state and federal bodies, and collaborated with industry leaders to build frameworks that balance consumer safety, business viability, and regulatory clarity. I understand both the legal nuance and commercial urgency that define our industry’s current moment.
If elected to the Hemp Beverage Alliance Board of Directors, I will bring this depth of experience, strategic insight, and policymaking credibility to ensure our members have a strong, informed voice in every legislative conversation—and the tools to grow responsibly in a dynamic regulatory environment.
Please reach out with any questions or to get to know me better!
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Hemp Beverage Alliance Board Candidate: Aaron Nosbisch of Brez
HBA will elect three members to the board of directors in June. Each candidate has been invited to post information about their candidacy for voters to review.
Aaron Nosbisch – Candidate for HBA Executive Board
Founder & CEO, BRĒZ | Founder, Lucyd
I’ve lived and breathed hemp since 2018, from owning one of the first CBD brands (Maku) to building what became the largest hemp advertising agency (Lucyd), which has helped build most of the leading hemp brands today, to now owning and operating BRĒZ, one of the leading beverages in the category.
I and my team have been instrumental in our category’s growth, managing over $100mm in ad spend for the category ($20mm directly from BRĒZ).
I’ve been working alongside most of you through our collective evolution, fighting for safe consumer access through a free and fair market.
I’ve been an HBA member almost since inception and am on the executive board of the US Hemp Roundtable, alongside whom I lobby in DC.
My intention is simple: Unify the hemp industry to free the plant through sound policy that empowers and enriches adult consumers.
This will look different in different locations as we progress, and we’ll compromise accordingly with collective support of the category to ensure we implement regulations efficiently and effectively, taking incremental wins as necessary.
My priority on the HBA Board will be to ensure that the companies doing it right don’t get left behind. I’ll advocate for pragmatic guardrails, smart marketing frameworks, and policies rooted in how consumers actually engage with our products—not just how regulators imagine they do.
This seat should go to someone who’s already doing the work.
— Aaron Nosbisch
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Drinking, dosing, and lounging: the new era of cannabis consumption
Hemp Beverage Alliance was mentioned in Green State’s publication covering a panel discussion (“The Hemp-derived Opportunity”) at MJ Unpacked.
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Weed In A Can: How Cannabis Drinks Are Changing The Ritual Of Drinking
Hemp Beverage Alliance board member Will Spartin was interviewed in Forbes on the growth of the hemp beverage marketplace:
Can This Market Keep Growing?
By nearly all measures, yes. California alone saw monthly cannabis beverage sales jump from $2.8 million in March 2024 to over $4 million by March 2025, according to Hoodie Analytics. Brands like Ray’s Lemonade and Ayrloom continue to lead in velocity, while smaller players like Sips and Soganja are also gaining ground.
On the national scale, mainstream alcohol retailers like Total Wine & More and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits are expanding their hemp-derived offerings. “We believe there’s growing interest among our alcohol partners in expanding their DoorDash offerings to include hemp-derived THC and CBD,” a company spokesperson confirms.
At the same time, operators are bracing for increased regulatory scrutiny, as Congress debates a new Farm Bill that could redefine the legal boundaries for hemp-derived THC—and as multiple states consider outright bans. Rather than resist the shift, many in the industry are actively pushing for smarter, more consistent oversight.
“We have no interest in a wild west approach,” says Triple COO Will Spartin, who also sits on the board of the Hemp Beverage Alliance. “We are advocating for positive regulation that balances between a free market approach and the need to protect consumer safety.”
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Purveyors of hemp beverages high on Georgia market, as beer hits new low
The Hemp Beverage Alliance was featured in an article in Capitol Beat on the Georgia hemp beverage marketplace:
“Since the Georgia regulations and rules came in last year, we have all pegged Georgia as the next Minnesota, which is to say, the next hemp beverage marketplace. So we’re very excited that this legislative session ended without a ban.”
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States rush to rein in booming hemp drink market with alcohol-style regulations
The Hemp Beverage Alliance was featured in an article in Pluribus News on the hemp beverage regulatory landscape:
Hemp-infused drinks are a fast-growing segment of the adult beverage market, with the potential to become a $4 billion industry by 2028, according to one forecast. The industry’s challenge has been getting the products into customers’ hands given the state and federal regulatory uncertainty.
Christopher Lackner, president and CEO of the two-year-old industry group the Hemp Beverage Alliance, said his members are increasingly engaging with alcohol wholesalers to strategize ways to give hemp beverage brands access to liquor retailers.
“What we are seeing is that when these products get on retail shelves next to other 21-plus products, they do very, very well,” Lackner said.
The fledgling alliance comes as states seek to create order out of chaos following the legalization of hemp for purposes of feed, fiber and grain in the 2018 federal farm bill.
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How HBA is helping reshape the THC Drink Market
The Hemp Beverage Alliance got a shout out in a recent deep dive from the Cannabis Law Report.
How Are Hemp Beverage Companies Preparing for Changes in State Regulations?
In anticipation of regulatory shifts, businesses in the hemp beverage industry are implementing strategies to protect their operations. Many companies actively lobby for balanced regulations, allowing continued sales while ensuring consumer safety. The Hemp Beverage Alliance, along with significant alcohol distributors, is advocating for a structured federal framework that preserves market access without imposing an outright ban.
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California comments
April 18, 2025
CDPH Food & Drug Branch
MS 7602, P.O. Box 997435
Sacramento, CA 95899
VIA EMAIL: FDBComments@cdph.ca.gov
SUBJECT: Industrial Hemp Regulations
The Hemp Beverage Alliance includes more than 290 hemp brands, service providers, and ingredient manufacturers in the hemp beverage industry throughout the United States and Canada. Together, we are dedicated to creating a marketplace that is transparent, sustainable, and provides consumers with the highest quality hemp-infused drinks.
On behalf of our organization and its members, the Alliance respectfully submits the following recommendations regarding serving size and age-gating for hemp beverages containing THC.
CDPH QUESTION #1
What issues or concerns should the Department be aware of in establishing regulations for serving size?
Hemp beverages that contain THC serving sizes should be safe, effective, and provide value to the consumer. The Hemp Beverage Alliance recommends the following serving sizes for ready-to-drink, large format, small format and kegs.
READY TO DRINK (RTD)
Serving: Total delta-9-THC cap of 10 milligrams per container.
Size: Container should be a minimum of 150 milliliters
SPIRIT ANALOG / LARGE FORMAT
Serving: No more than 5 milligrams of total delta-9-THC per serving
Servings per container: Maximum of 1 serving per 47 milliliters of liquid
Size: Containers must be 375 milliliter or greater in volume
375 ml = 8 servings = 40 mg total delta-9-THC
750 ml = 16 servings = 80 mg total delta-9-THC
SPIRIT ANALOG - SMALL FORMAT/MINIATURE
Serving: No more than 5 milligrams of total delta-9-THC per serving
Servings per container: Maximum of 1 serving per container
Size: Containers must be no less than 50 milliliters and no more than 120 milliliters
KEG
Serving: Uniform milligram levels of total delta-9-THC per serving
Servings per container: n/a
Size: servings should be at least 300 milliliters
CDPH QUESTION #2
What other issues or concerns should the Department be aware of in establishing regulations for an age requirement?
The sale of cannabinoid-infused beverages that contain THC should be restricted to adults aged 21 years or older.
SUPPLIERS
Labels should clearly indicate through text and symbol that the product is for use only by adults aged 21 years or older.
Packages should be tamper-evident and consistent with current alcohol containers
RETAIL SALES
Hemp beverages should be sold only to adults aged 21 years or older, with age-verification required prior to sales.
Retailers should be licensed to ensure compliance in selling only to adults aged 21 years or older.
Retailers should be trained to understand the importance of age-gating hemp beverages. Training should include but not be limited to carding/age identification; safe storage of product to prevent theft; safe marketing/shelving/display of product
DISTRIBUTION
Wholesale distribution and sales of hemp beverages should be limited to businesses that are appropriately licensed.
Distributors should be licensed to ensure hemp beverages are only distributed to properly licensed retailers that comply with 21+ retail sale requirements.
Distributors should reject suppliers that do not adhere to label requirements regarding age gating, COAs, warnings, and other regulatory requirements.
MARKETING
Suppliers and retailers must not target, or otherwise promote hemp beverages to, people below the legal drinking age (LDA). Such restrictions should apply to all methods of marketing and advertising, including social media.
Marketing restrictions should reflect current restrictions for the alcohol industry.
Product labeling should not include designs, names, or features designed to appeal to children.
Product labels and marketing should not be designed to create consumer confusion or infringe on third-party copyright or intellectual property of existing products.
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