In 1937, a misinformed Congress passed a law banning the production of one of the most important crops in U.S. history: hemp. Less than a decade later, during the height of World War II, Congress suspended the misguided decision due to a lack of the crop available for naval rigging after export bans from the Philippines. As soon as the war ended, however, Congress reimposed the prohibition — a ban that lasted over 70 years.

Then, in 2018, Congress did something near-miraculous: it passed a bill allowing, once again, for the production of this incredible, oft-maligned crop, providing a boost for the nation’s farmers and economy writ large.  

I’m an Atlanta near-native and co-founder of Silent Flower, a non-alcoholic, hemp-infused THC sparkling rosé. I have had a front-row seat to both the promise and uncertainty of this industry for the past few years. After doctor’s orders told me to give alcohol some breathing room a few years ago, I was inspired to build a hemp beverage company driven by the promise Congress made in 2018.  

Recent estimates suggest the modern hemp industry provides over 300,000 jobs (many of them right here in Georgia), with $1.5 billion in potential state tax revenue.  

For most of our nation’s history, hemp was not prohibited. It was vital. Ships’ sails were woven from it. Levi’s first jeans were made from it. Hemp milk was used when dairy wasn’t available. 

Before the Declaration of Independence (written on– take a wild guess– hemp paper), you could even pay your taxes with it. This was the same era when adults started their day with hard cider, kept the booze flowing throughout the workday, and often had to stagger home.  

Since the 2018 Farm Bill allowed U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp, the crop has proliferated across countless industries: as a carbon-negative building material known as hempcrete; as a replacement for fiberglass and plastics in automotive manufacturing; in tinctures and topicals that people rely on for pain, inflammation, and sleep; and in an exciting new beverage category that has provided millions of consumers across the country with a non-alcoholic social tipple that still provides a pleasant lift. 

But, building a business in this category has meant navigating constant uncertainty. What started as an exciting journey launching a non-alcoholic hemp-infused wine brand shifted dramatically last November. You may recall that, at the time, a shutdown of the federal government had extended for a perilously long 43 days. Pressure was mounting on all sides to get a spending bill passed to fund the government. 

Behind closed doors, a deal was struck to insert language into the 2025 spending bill, language that would end the pro-hemp policy that had allowed for the resurgence of this vital staple of American agriculture. Members of Congress who supported the hemp industry were left with few options, none of them good. Funding the government was simply too important to risk holding out over the treatment of hemp.  

On the evening of November 12, 2025, as Senator after Senator cast their vote, I tuned in to C-SPAN for the first time since high school civics, or possibly ever. And then the bottom dropped out.  

Hemp lost.  

Our industry was given a 12-month wind-down period before all hemp products became subject to a 0.4 mg THC cap, eliminating 95 percent of the products on the market, including Silent Flower, as well as the full-spectrum CBD that so many people across the country rely on. 

It was a surreal development for an industry with more than $28 billion in economic impact, one that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and countless small businesses (again, many of them right here in Georgia) that invested in a legal framework previously established by Congress.     

Since then, many proposals have been floated, but nothing concrete has changed. November 12, 2026, will, if nothing changes, spell the end of what had been such a promising new chapter for the economy, for consumer choice, and for businesses like mine. 

But a groundswell is building. Just a few days ago, congressional leaders from Kentucky and Minnesota introduced a bipartisan bill to regulate hemp beverages under a framework similar to alcohol regulations: strict age-gating, mandatory three-tier distribution, and sensible rules around potency and container size. The proposal has significant support from both sides of the aisle.  

But in Washington, the only thing guaranteed is procrastination.  

If you have become a fan of these beverages, or know someone who has, it’s imperative to make your voice heard. One of the major beverage trade groups in the U.S., the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), has created a simple form that sends a note of support for this legal, booming but endangered category directly to members of Congress. It takes around 10 seconds to complete. And if, like I was, you’re skeptical, it will make a difference. Know that these messages are seen and help demonstrate just how much support exists for this category. 

More than half of the country has either purchased a hemp beverage or know someone who has. Let’s band together to keep the opportunity flowing by taking action here.

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