TRIP REPORT
The panel, " Regulation and Enforcement of Marijuana: Sifting through the Haze."
The panel, " You’ re under the influence! Exploring Partnerships and Sponsorships in the Modern Era."
proper regulations.
“ We need regulation, and we want regulation,” Eberlain said.“ We need more time. That Nov. 12 timeline, especially in an election year, is not enough time. So we look at this as very much an existential threat.”
“ Our industry has been very united about where we want our products to be sold, and that’ s in the three-tier system,” she added.“ Why would we try to recreate a new system to regulate us when there’ s a beautiful one already set up? The only way to move forward is to work with the alcohol folks. After all, lots of the producers of these products are craft breweries.”
And what makes these popular products stand out“ is that they blend in,” Eberlain said.“ They’ re another adult beverage and should be sold with adult beverages at businesses that already have age-gating and other best practices.”
“ When you’ re trying to be in a Total Wine or other licensed retailer, there’ s a certain legitimacy that you need,” she added.“ And so as a result, we need to play in the world, and we’ re trying to with the self-regulation that we currently have.”
Michelle Bodian, General Counsel- Regulatory Affairs, for the pioneering THC drinks brand Nowadays, says that correct packaging remains key. One of the hangups in Washington D. C. about this industry is making sure that the marketing does not appeal to children.
Her fellow panelists agreed, adding that federal legislators prioritize cleaning up the market, removing bad actors and protecting children first, and will then move forward onto proper regulation.
“ They’ re concerned about synthetics and high-dose products,” Eberlain said.“ Most beverage retailers are already saying,‘ Won’ t carry anything over 10 mgs’.”
A number of bills currently in Congress aim at regulating the industry properly before it ' s gutted on Nov. 12. These include various takes on taxation and milligram limits.
“ The best part about all of these is that it shows there’ s interest in resolution,” Eberlain said.“ What that resolution is depends on some variables. Depending on movement in one area might mean that we pivot. Right now, we are working on multiple solutions. Right now, we’ re trying to show our dedication to getting regulations passed.”
CELEBRITIES, ATHLETES AND ALCOHOL
Another area of the market that has grown rapidly in recent time, despite the overall pullback, is celebrity alcohol brands. These were the subject of the panel,“ You’ re under the influence! Exploring Partnerships and Sponsorships in the Modern Era.”
“ Obviously everyone has seen the huge money made by George Clooney and other celebrities,” said Bahaneh Hobel, Partner, Head of Alcohol Beverage Law & Compliance, Dickenson, Peatman, Fogarty.“ That’ s what all the celebrities see, as a lucrative way to make money on the side in addition to their acting or sports role.”
“ As an attorney, I’ m always shocked how easy it is for celebrities to sell alcohol,” she added.“ Especially in today’ s market, they can just attach their name and sell through thousands and thousands of bottles. And it’ s a quick return
8 StateWays • Summer 2026 www. stateways. com