Which alcohol companies were interested in the THC-infused drink market?

Alcohol makers like Corona brewer Constellation Brands and Pernod Ricard, the distiller of Absolut vodka, had been researching and even discussing potential investments in the THC-infused drink market.

Home / Business and Economy / Shutdown Deal Bans Intoxicating Cannabis Drinks, Shaking Up Alcohol Industry

Shutdown Deal Bans Intoxicating Cannabis Drinks, Shaking Up Alcohol Industry

Q: What did the U.S. government shutdown deal include?

The U.S. government shutdown deal included a provision to stop the spread of intoxicating cannabis-infused beverages sold in some U.S. states.

Q: How will the new law impact the THC-infused drinks industry?

The new law, set to take effect in a year, will deliver a major blow to the "low-dose" THC-infused beverages industry, which had been projected to reach $4 billion in sales by 2028.

14 Nov

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Summary

New law bans drinks with over 0.4mg THC, impacting $4B market
Alcohol makers like Constellation Brands researched THC-infused drinks
Provision introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell, signed by Trump

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.