The last three months have seen a surge in congressional lobbying from major alcohol companies and associations aiming to influence federal hemp laws, with a focus on THC beverages that many consumers are turning to as beer and liquor alternatives.
According to newly published lobbying disclosures from the 3rd quarter of 2025, a wide range of cannabis and alcohol interests put dollars toward various legislative issues, including marijuana banking, rescheduling, legalization and hemp regulations, Marijuana Moment reported.
But there was an especially notable amount of lobbying activity around hemp THC beverages as Congress and state legislatures across the country discuss policy options for intoxicating cannabinoid products—with some pushing for an outright ban and others promoting a more rigorous regulatory framework that prioritizes public health and deterring youth access.
While it’s not unusual for alcohol interests to be among those disclosing lobbying around cannabis legislation, this latest quarter saw major brands such as Bacardi North America and Moet Hennessy USA join the action.
The summaries of their lobbying focus disclosed in the reports don’t specify their intent—or the amount of time, money and energy spent on this issue as opposed to others of concern—but the alcohol industry has shown increased interest in being part of the conversation around cannabis laws as they’ve seen more consumers gravitate toward marijuana and hemp instead of booze.
Beyond marijuana and alcohol industry stakeholders, the filings also reveal lobbying spending on cannabis issues from advocacy groups, government entities, non-cannabis corporations, financial institutions are more.
Some of the most notable players weighing in with Congress on cannabis issues last quarter include the office of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), Altria, Molson Coors, PayPal, DoorDash and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Here’s a look at some of the key interests that lobbied on cannabis policy last quarter:
