Good morning — here’s the regulatory picture for alcohol and hemp/THC beverages, readable in about three minutes. Every headline links to the original source. Alcohol-specific news stayed quiet overnight, so today’s edition again runs hemp-heavy.

Top Story

Federal

Bipartisan hemp beverage bill adds cosponsors as the November 12 THC caps approach

FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Aug 24

The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act (H.R. 10079), introduced August 11 by Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) with Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), added two House cosponsors Monday, and a broader hemp THC products regulation bill (H.R. 9830) added two of its own. The bill would regulate hemp-derived THC beverages through an alcohol-style three-tier distribution framework with 21-plus age limits, mandatory testing and labeling, a THC-based federal excise tax, and preserved state authority to further restrict or ban the products (sponsor release). The sponsors present it as an alternative regulatory path ahead of the 0.4 mg per-container federal THC cap that takes effect November 12.

Why it matters: Cosponsor movement is the main visible signal of whether Congress acts on hemp beverages before the November 12 caps — the difference between a regulated national category and one largely off shelves.

Around the States

Montana adopts changes to marijuana packaging, labeling and tracking rules

MONTANA • Marijuana Moment • Aug 24

Montana regulators adopted rule changes governing packaging, labeling and product tracking for marijuana businesses — label and package specifications are among the compliance details most likely to require production changes for beverage-format products.

Colorado flags pesticide-contaminated vaporizers; draft rule changes up for review Wednesday

COLORADO • Marijuana Moment • Aug 24

Colorado regulators issued a health-and-safety bulletin about cannabis vaporizers found to contain pesticides, and draft changes to the state’s marijuana rules are scheduled for review on Wednesday.

California orders marijuana product recall over compliance-testing failures

CALIFORNIA • Marijuana Moment • Aug 24

California regulators announced a marijuana product recall tied to incomplete and incorrect compliance testing — a reminder that certificate-of-analysis integrity remains an active enforcement area in regulated product categories.

On the Radar

Aug. 26 — The corrected 2,470-page DEA rescheduling hearing transcript is due on the agency’s website, after which the administrative law judge weighs final briefs and moves toward a recommendation on marijuana’s scheduling status (Marijuana Moment).

Sept. 8 — Canada’s retaliatory tariffs begin. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will “match those tariffs dollar for dollar” after 50% U.S. tariffs covering alcoholic beverages took effect August 22 (NPR).

Nov. 12 — Federal hemp THC limits take effect. Section 781 of the 2026 Appropriations Act caps finished consumable hemp products at 0.4 mg total THC per container; law firm Vicente LLP estimates the standard would bar roughly 95% of current hemp-derived products, including most THC beverages (Vicente LLP).

Jeremy Barnes | Chief Financial Officer, New Realm Brewing Co.

Prepared for New Realm’s leadership team and valued partners. This brief is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice; it is compiled with AI assistance from the linked sources — please confirm details at the link before acting on them.

Buttons not working? Reply to this email with the word subscribe or unsubscribe. Requests are processed automatically each morning before send.

Listen & follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • All apps

» jbarnes@newrealmbrewing.com

» newrealmbrewing.com

» Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn