New Mexico's tracking cutover enters its final week with an emergency motion still pending; a Travis County judge weighs pausing Texas THC enforcement; Morales Beverage Group signs an LOI for RNDC's Indiana assets.

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Daily Compliance Brief
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Vol. 1 • Edition 17 • Monday, August 31, 2026 • Alcohol & Hemp/THC Regulation • Federal + All 50 States

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. A quiet weekend for regulators, so today's edition runs shorter than usual.

Top Story

New Mexico's tracking-system cutover enters its final week with an emergency court motion still pending

NEW MEXICO • The Marijuana Herald • Aug 29

The state's switch from BioTrack to its new NMS2S track-and-trace system hits its decisive stretch this week: as of today testing labs can no longer receive samples in BioTrack, retailers gain NMS2S access September 2, and BioTrack shuts down permanently at 12:01 a.m. September 4. Seven businesses backed by the Cannabis Association of New Mexico have asked the Second Judicial District Court for an emergency order keeping BioTrack as the system of record through at least September 15; as of late last week the court had not ruled, and the state filed a motion to dismiss on August 24. The Cannabis Control Division said it has been preparing since 2024 and that the new system will eliminate per-tag fees and monthly subscription costs.

Why it matters: Any partner moving product in New Mexico faces a hard compliance cutover this week — transfers, lab samples and inventory records must be reconciled in the new system by Friday's shutdown, and a late court order could change the timeline on short notice.

Around the States

Texas: Travis County judge weighs pause on THC enforcement; injunction hearing would follow Sept. 17 or Oct. 8

TEXAS • FOX 7 Austin • Aug 28

A ruling on hemp businesses' request for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the state's THC ban could come at any time, with a full temporary-injunction hearing to follow on September 17 or October 8 depending on the outcome. The businesses' attorney, Davis Sergi, argued the state health department has never defined what trace amount of THC crosses into illegality; Aubree Adams of Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas said the group opposes making the products legal and accessible.

Why it matters: The order would determine whether hemp THC products can return to Texas shelves in the near term — a swing in market access for beverage makers and retailers in the state.

Indiana: Morales Beverage Group signs letter of intent to acquire RNDC's Indiana assets

INDIANA • Brewbound • Aug 28

Morales Beverage Group signed a letter of intent to acquire Republic National Distributing Company's Indiana assets and operations, which would extend MBG's distribution footprint to a sixth state. Closing timing was not disclosed.

Why it matters: Suppliers and retailers with Indiana routes to market may see house, portfolio and service changes as the handover is negotiated — worth confirming continuity terms with affected distributor contacts.

On the Radar

Nov. 12 — New federal hemp restrictions, including a 0.3% total-THC standard, take effect. H.R. 7024, filed by Rep. James Baird (R-IN) to delay the provisions to November 2028, stands at 41 House backers but has not received a committee vote.

Sept. 17 / Oct. 8 — Alternative dates for the Travis County temporary-injunction hearing on Texas THC enforcement, depending on how the pending restraining-order request is decided.

DEA rescheduling — The agency's marijuana rescheduling decision remains pending; the administrative hearing transcript was published the week of August 24.

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.

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Audio transcript (~2 min read)

This is the New Realm Compliance Brief, Volume One, Edition Seventeen, for Monday, August Thirty-First.

A quiet weekend on the regulatory front, so today's update is short.

Our top story: New Mexico's cannabis track-and-trace transition enters its final week. As of today, testing laboratories can no longer receive samples in the outgoing BioTrack system. Retailers gain access to the state's new system, called N M S Two S, on Wednesday, September Second, and BioTrack shuts down for good at one minute past midnight on Friday, September Fourth. Seven businesses, backed by the Cannabis Association of New Mexico, have asked a state district court for an emergency order keeping BioTrack in place through September Fifteenth. As of late last week the court had not ruled, and the state has moved to dismiss the case. Regulators said the new system will eliminate per-tag fees and monthly subscription costs.

Around the states: In Texas, a Travis County judge is weighing a temporary restraining order that would pause enforcement of the state's THC ban. The businesses' attorney argued the state health department has never defined what trace amount of THC is illegal; opponents of hemp sales said the state should keep its prohibition in place. If the restraining order is denied, a fuller injunction hearing would follow on September Seventeenth or October Eighth.

In Indiana, Morales Beverage Group signed a letter of intent to acquire Republic National Distributing Company's Indiana assets, expanding its distribution footprint to a sixth state.

On the radar: House bill Seventy Twenty-Four, which would delay the new federal hemp restrictions from November Twelfth of this year to November of Twenty Twenty-Eight, stands at forty-one House backers but has not had a committee vote. And the Drug Enforcement Administration's marijuana rescheduling decision remains pending after the hearing transcript was published last week.

Full details and source links are in today's email. This update is for general information only — it is not legal advice.