Hemp is a slowly growing sector of the beverage industry, with non-alcoholic beers being a key category. Thus, the Hemp Beverage Alliance trade association launched in 2023 to serve the needs of the burgeoning hemp beverage industry. This week, the ground announced the formation of its inaugural board of directors.
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance is honored to have the strongest leaders in the industry on our board. Each one of them is committed to creating a safe, transparent and thriving hemp beverage industry, and elevating the category into the mainstream,” said Christopher Lackner, president and CEO.
With more than 180 members in the United States and Canada, the Alliance works with brands, retailers, and distributors to create a self-regulated industry that restricts hemp beverages to adults, establishes reasonable serving size standards, requires strong testing for cannabinoids and contaminants, and creates labeling standards to empower consumers to make informed choices.
The Hemp Beverage Alliance board of directors includes:
- Mike Colich, co-founder & president, North Canna Co.
- Lisa Hurwitz, co-founder & president, Happi
- David Knight, president & CEO, Jones Soda
- Andrew Lee, chief legal officer, Cheech & Chong’s Global Holdings
- Art Massolo, vice president of business development, Cycling Frog
- Glenn McElfresh, co-founder, Plift
- Adam Terry, CEO & co-founder, Cantrip
- Ted Whitney, head of sales, Squared
- Pierce Wylie, co-founder, Rebel Rabbit
“The Hemp Beverage Alliance is building a foundation of quality, safety, self-regulation and responsibility that will allow this industry to thrive in coming years,” said Ted Whitney, board chairman. “On behalf of all the board members, we look forward to working with stakeholders from every sector to make hemp beverages as ubiquitous as beer, wine, and hard seltzer.”
The Hemp Beverage Alliance will be at Benzinga Capital Conference on April 16-17 in Fort Lauderdale, and the Craft Brewers Conference & Expo on April 21-24 in Las Vegas.
