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.

Top Story

Federal

Undisclosed-donor group runs ad against Sen. Sheehy's push to keep hemp THC products legal; Sheehy-Klobuchar bill in the works

FEDERAL • Marijuana Moment • Oct 15

NADP Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) that does not disclose its donors, released a 30-second ad criticizing Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) for working to keep hemp-derived THC products legal; the ad says he "wants to keep THC drinks on our shelves — not in the dispensary — at the convenience store, next to soft drinks" and urges viewers to ask him to "close the hemp loophole." Sheehy, who is drafting a yet-to-be-filed bill with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) that would call off the scheduled federal hemp THC ban and set market rules, has said Montana has "an incredibly strong hemp industry" and that regulation would limit beverage access to adults. The group's backers are unclear: some hemp industry sources suspect state-licensed marijuana businesses, while some marijuana industry sources suspect groups that favor prohibition of both, per the report.

Why it matters: The fight over the Sheehy-Klobuchar approach will decide whether hemp THC beverages can stay in convenience and grocery channels after the Dec. 11 federal limits take effect.

Administration asks Supreme Court to decide whether courts can vacate agency rules nationwide

FEDERAL • SCOTUSblog • Oct 16

Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed a petition, docketed Oct. 15 in Department of Health and Human Services v. Texas Medical Association (No. 26-491), asking the justices to decide whether a federal court may set aside an agency rule in its entirety — "as to everyone," not just the parties before the court. Sauer argued nothing in the Administrative Procedure Act "suggests that the statute vests courts with that 'new and far-reaching remedial power'"; the challengers' response is currently due Nov. 13.

Why it matters: The answer will shape whether a single lawsuit can erase federal alcohol, hemp or labeling rules nationwide — the posture of most industry challenges to TTB, FDA and DEA actions.

Around the States

Tennessee hemp retailers report steep contraction under the state's new TABC licensing, testing and fee regime

TENNESSEE • Local 3 News • Oct 15

Under the 2025 law that moved hemp-derived cannabinoid oversight to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, retailers report sharp declines since prior licenses expired in July — one three-store Chattanooga-area chain cited an 80% revenue drop and will close a location Oct. 31 — and state hemp tax collections came in far under estimates ($427,000 vs. a $9.4 million estimate in July; the FY2027 estimate was cut by $46.2 million). Gas stations are no longer eligible for retail licenses, products are capped at 0.3% total THC dry weight with a 0.1% THCA limit, and a per-milligram wholesale tax applies. License fees & structure: TABC's schedule sets a $500 nonrefundable application fee at every tier, with annual license fees of $1,000 for retailers (up from $250 under the prior Department of Agriculture framework), $5,000 for wholesalers and $2,500 for suppliers; retailers, wholesalers and suppliers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products must each hold the license for their tier.

Why it matters: For a Tennessee retail account the annual license cost of carrying hemp beverages quadrupled to $1,000 per license plus testing costs, and a distributor adding the category faces $5,500 in first-year TABC fees — figures to build into any Tennessee hemp-beverage program.

Poll: 63% of North Carolinians back recreational legalization as hemp THC bill awaits House action

NORTH CAROLINA • Marijuana Moment • Oct 16

A SurveyUSA poll of 900 adults for WRAL and WSOC, conducted Oct. 7-11, found 63% support for recreational legalization (73% of Democrats, 52% of Republicans) and 74% for medical. The Senate has passed a bill restricting hemp THC and kratom products that awaits House action, and the governor's Advisory Council on Cannabis is due to deliver its final report by Dec. 31.

On the Radar

Oct. 21 — DEA's reply (capped at 10 pages) is due on rescheduling opponents' motion for new testimony and discovery; the proceeding remains stayed until Chief ALJ Derek Julius rules.

Nov. 3 — Massachusetts votes on Question 8 (top story); election day also decides state offices that shape alcohol and hemp policy nationwide.

Nov. 12 / Dec. 11 — The federal ban on synthetic (non-naturally occurring) cannabinoids takes effect Nov. 12; the 0.3% total-THC standard and 0.4 mg per-container cap for finished hemp products follow Dec. 11. Illinois enforces the cap from Nov. 12; New Jersey's alignment bills are pending.

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.

Read online & browse the archive: compliance.newrealmbrewing.com • Listen & follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • All apps

» jbarnes@newrealmbrewing.com

» newrealmbrewing.com

» Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn