[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6061881,"mediaKeyId","3280997-14a93a327d1cb10ac7bd6bf700ef5251","parentId",3280997,"title","Industry, health advocates and brewers urge state regulation of hemp‑derived THC beverages; retailers warn of market disruption","audioSeconds",2687,"startMs",2135000,"endMs",4822000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280997-14a93a327d1cb10ac7bd6bf700ef5251&start=2135&end=4822","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280997-14a93a327d1cb10ac7bd6bf700ef5251/thumbnail_2135000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061881/Massachusetts/Industry-health-advocates-and-brewers-urge-state-regulation-of-hempderived-THC-beverages-retailers-warn-of-market-disruption","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061881-b6acc62cb97ae68862e9f8d623c8da9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151008&Signature=Y0HshsEteMNUhsE1CHGLBZxyHnixL-6xwgithVqlPW6JBV-TambkdtgjfwSSWklre67CyN7Qsqpcb1aAn02XEl7CHXx5zwp2UX3ZJJLxMKWmGROV3gp8aKqBqnwJOqs0P-yNplM4VUbP-9byH~8z-63d9JLBkz7HoJH~UBkHgYwhIQ7fYyfZwKYdeHr~0OnNP982Sgwn0RrJ6YRO3DqXkf6uxnNgb19CSkGsHUjN3m203PDkRO4hEqeVwmbioLVVhjmfwWtMZ5JGJHzWJMXXJrLweprNx3EmCU4q934nEt22UclcK5aqRnCgyT86se7fPWzmhAExt3HnQehZFk-mWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","Manufacturers, licensed cannabis businesses and public‑health advocates urged the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to create a regulatory framework for hemp‑derived intoxicating beverages, saying the unregulated market exposes consumers — including minors — to untested products and that legalization with controls would recapture tax revenue.

Adam Oliveri, co‑founder and CEO of Craft Collective Homegrown, testified on behalf of the Commonwealth Beverage Coalition that House Bill 357 and Senate Bill 222 would regulate hemp‑derived THC beverages to prioritize consumer safety, restrict youth access and require testing and labeling. “Regulation isn’t just an industry priority. It’s a public‑health necessity,” Oliveri said.

Brandon Pollock, CEO of Theory Wellness, said licensed cannabis companies invest heavily in compliance and age gating and that a regulated framework would help local health departments remove unregulated products from the market. The coalition projected $25 million to $40 million in new annual tax revenue in the first 12 to 18 months of implementation, and cited Minnesota and Rhode Island as regulatory models and examples of market size.

The Mass Brewers Guild and individual craft brewers voiced support for a regulated market but urged lawmakers to avoid rules that would exclude breweries from participating or that would reimpose franchise restrictions. Liz Littwall, treasurer of the guild and co‑owner at 4 Star Farms brewery, told the committee that as drafted the hemp‑beverage bills would force a brewery producing an infused beverage to sell to a wholesaler and then buy it back before selling it in its own taproom — a costly, duplicative step. “Craft brewers are already subject to stringent quality, safety, and traceability standards,” she said, and asked lawmakers to allow breweries to use existing sales privileges where appropriate.

Caleb Hilliades, director of brewing operations at Amherst Brewing, said his proposal for limited self‑distribution contemplates a cap — he cited a working figure of 50,000 gallons — but that brewers are open to negotiating quantity or distance limits with wholesalers. He said limited self‑distribution could allow local deliveries to sister restaurants or events without adding unnecessary trucks or cost.

Several craft brewers also opposed provisions in two bills they said would amend Massachusetts franchise law and lock in wholesaler contracts after a change of ownership, undermining the 2020 compromise embodied in “section 25 e and a half.” Sarah Lee, vice president of the Mass Brewers Guild, said the proposed changes would “strip breweries of flexibility, reduce company value and discourage investment.”

Retailers and the Massachusetts Package Stores Association presented a contrasting view. Rob Malyon, executive director and general counsel for the association, told the committee that Massachusetts has an oversaturated off‑premises retail market — “well over 3,000 off‑premise licenses” — and that expanding license apportionment or permitting new vertically integrated retail models would put additional stores at risk. Ben Weiner, a longtime retailer, said business has declined and urged caution before loosening licensing or distribution rules.

Packaged‑store owners said they were supportive of allowing hemp products back onto retail shelves as a way to offer new revenue streams, but they opposed measures they said would create monopoly advantages for other tiers or increase local license counts without safeguards.

The committee heard multiple technical and implementation questions but took no votes on the bills. The panel session ended with a procedural motion to close the hearing; the committee recorded the vote and will continue to accept written testimony on the docket.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure - 5-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Proponents told the joint committee that H.357/S.222 would bring unregulated hemp‑derived intoxicating beverages into a tested, age‑restricted market and capture tax revenue; craft brewers asked to be allowed to use existing sales privileges while packaged‑store retailers warned of oversaturation and commercial displacement.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061886,"Lawmakers, town officials urge return of liquor‑license authority to cities and towns",3796,1419000,5215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280997-14a93a327d1cb10ac7bd6bf700ef5251&start=1419&end=5215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280997-14a93a327d1cb10ac7bd6bf700ef5251/thumbnail_1419000.jpg","/articles/6061886/Massachusetts/Lawmakers-town-officials-urge-return-of-liquorlicense-authority-to-cities-and-towns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061886-41d393fcc6587d0d7935e5c38aa5c25c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151008&Signature=OkAOyXZ7lK6nDKockmkWRUBAWHaegF~TsvN2yICv~~LUmLlI7i6EFj7fKRl08j8GP7cBaHRGFRYC79chQeblvJzeXGHGUh6vflsZqrv9HuMY9wUQtdvOrnKO3SUjKUB2URa2AG5SUrx9FqFxwlbM~RsD-UUUZyaT9tATDzjODDOr5OYQFjiPQ5dYREjvqoT-zdJsgJq6GDtE0sL5w4XDqblHtSAYUsZqigWk83Nd4GInfQp~ukoG5SIzDNFLs3ia91~~asCsK7sw46VH3LefuXsQL169wMzOQVt5-GVgYAS3mO8UjxeV1uNobHr~EI89AmEsg-cQb~Lj25QNjtA4zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters of legislation to return liquor‑licensing authority to local governments told the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure that delegating more license decisions to cities and towns would streamline approvals and boost local economies.

Ally Di Matteo, legislative analyst with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, told the committee that House Bill 437 and Senate Bill 279 would simplify a process established in 1933 and give municipalities more flexibility to grant additional on‑premises liquor licenses. “Local licensing authorities need to be entrusted with determining how many licenses are appropriate within their communities,” Di Matteo said.

The bills would preserve the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission’s regulatory authority while removing the requirement that every municipality petition the Legislature to add licenses. Christopher Senior, town manager of Cohasset, described local demand: Cohasset’s village district now has eight restaurants, all 14 of the town’s all‑alcohol on‑premises licenses have been issued, and the town has four remaining wine‑and‑beer licenses. Senior said Cohasset collected more than $350,000 in local option meals tax revenue in fiscal 2024 and has an active home‑rule petition seeking five additional all‑alcohol on‑premises licenses.

Senior said those licenses can make the difference for business models ranging from oyster bars to sit‑down restaurants. “Without local flexibility to issue more, local growth and all the benefits it provides will stop,” he said.

Representative Rose McKenna, sponsor of the House bill, said municipalities need that discretion to support economic development and to respond more quickly than the multi‑step home‑rule process allows. McKenna noted an item in the House budget, outside section 28, that would give municipalities local options to convert beer‑and‑wine licenses to all‑alcohol licenses, and said that signal reflects an understanding that towns should have more licensing autonomy.

Senator Jacob Provano read prepared remarks on behalf of Sen. Olivera, who attempted to testify virtually but was not recognized under the committee’s current in‑person rule. The remarks urged a favorable report on S.279, saying the quota system is “outdated” and that returning authority to municipalities would “shorten the lengthy processes currently in place.”

Small business owners and prospective restaurateurs also testified in favor of the bills. Reshma, owner of Pinot’s Palette in Lexington, said a beer‑and‑wine option would “increase our revenue” and support staff and services. James Sparks, CEO of Fable Brewing Company, said a local license would allow his planned Lexington brewery to complete leases, hire staff and begin operations.

Committee members asked few substantive questions during the panel. No committee vote on the bills occurred; the hearing was a public‑testimony session. The committee recorded a formal motion to close the hearing at the end of the day; Representative Sangiolo moved, Representative LaBeouf seconded, and the motion passed.

Supporters told the committee the measure is intended to help restaurants and town centers recover and grow by reducing reliance on the multi‑step home‑rule petition process. Opponents or other perspectives were not heard on this specific topic during the in‑person panels, though the committee accepted written testimony from other parties.

The committee will continue to accept written testimony on the docket. Further hearings or committee action were not announced during this session.","Supporters including the Massachusetts Municipal Association and town managers told the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure that House Bill 437 and Senate Bill 279 would speed approvals, help local businesses and keep regulatory oversight with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.","actionData","errors"]

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Industry, health advocates and brewers urge state regulation of hemp‑derived THC beverages; retailers warn of market disruption

Lawmakers, town officials urge return of liquor‑license authority to cities and towns