Shutdown Deal Bans Intoxicating Cannabis Drinks, Shaking Up Alcohol Industry

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the alcohol industry, the recent agreement to end the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown includes a provision to stop the spread of intoxicating cannabis-infused beverages. The new law, introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell and signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 14, 2025, aims to close a loophole that has allowed some of these intoxicants to be sold as "hemp," a legal product under federal law.

The change, set to take effect in a year, delivers a major blow to the "low-dose" THC-infused beverages industry, which has rapidly expanded in states like Minnesota and Tennessee that permitted the drinks. Most of these products contain at least 1 milligram of THC, giving drinkers a noticeable buzz. Industry analysts had projected sales of more than $4 billion for these beverages by 2028.

Alcohol makers like Corona brewer Constellation Brands had been internally researching the THC-infused drinks to weigh their next steps in this emerging market segment. Pernod Ricard, the distiller of Absolut vodka, even met with executives of one of the brands to discuss a possible investment over the summer, though it ultimately did not proceed with any deal.