A proposal to regulate hemp-derived beverages in Massachusetts was approved today by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
Filed today as Senate Bill 2663, the measure would create an entirely new regulatory framework for hemp-derived beverages, aligning them with the systems used to oversee alcohol and marijuana products. It establishes new licensing categories, a statewide excise tax, strict manufacturing standards, retail restrictions, and enforcement tools for both state and local regulators.
At the center of the proposal is a new Hemp Beverage Public Health and Local Enforcement Trust Fund, which would support public-health education and local enforcement efforts. The bill also imposes a $2.20-per-gallon excise tax on hemp beverages, allocates revenue between several state funds, and establishes comprehensive rules for product manufacturing, testing, labeling, and sales.
The measure defines hemp beverages as products containing intoxicating cannabinoids derived from hemp and places them outside the state’s food code. It also prohibits sales to anyone under 21, requires age verification, and mandates that products meet packaging, warning, and testing standards similar to those applied to marijuana-infused beverages.
Under the bill, manufacturers would need a new annual license or certificate of compliance from the Cannabis Control Commission, and retailers would be limited to those with alcohol licenses or marijuana retail licenses, depending on product type. Local boards of health would gain new enforcement authority, including inspections, product seizures, and the ability to issue warnings and administrative fines for violations.
The legislation also establishes rules for multi-serving hemp beverages, prohibits artificially-derived cannabinoids, and creates a product-registration system requiring detailed labeling and certificates of analysis from approved laboratories.
If approved by the Senate Ways and Means, the bill will move to the full Senate.
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