Wyden addresses hemp beverage industry summit in Bend, calls for standardized consumer protections

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon Senator Ron Wyden gave a keynote address Friday at the Pacific Hemp Beverage Industry Summit at Worthy Brewing, talking about the need to regulate - not ban - hemp-derived products at the federal level.

"Gen Z. the Millennials, Gen X -- they are changing their drinking preference," Wyden told about 50 hemp-industry stakeholders from around the country.

The senator said many are interested in hemp-infused beverages as an alternative, but want assurances the products are safe and regulated. And he stressed the importance of making sure people know hemp, legalized as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, does not have the same THC properties as marijuana.

Wyden noted previous issues with a lack of safety rules for labeling: "You saw mislabeled products. You saw products that targeted children. And that wasn't acceptable to us."

The senator said he seeks standardized nationwide consumer protections that would allow products to be more widely sold and trusted, and urged those in the industry to lobby their lawmakers for that outcome.

Last month, Wyden and colleague Jeff Merkley introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act to establish national standards for public safety and to keep cannabis products out of children's hands.

The bill would require all hemp-derived products be tested for safety and use clean, safe manufacturing processes. It also would require truthful labeling and require the FDA to recall or ban any cannabis products with dangerous chemicals or additives.