Once informed, a majority support regulation using alcohol structure as model.
Alexandria, VA – Today, the Center for Alcohol Policy released a survey on the public’s views on hemp-derived THC beverages and their regulation. It’s important to note that the Center does not take a position on the legalization of these products; rather in the spirit of education, it regularly commissions national surveys as it seeks to provide the public with objective information to guide thoughtful decision making.
“With so many states debating potential regulation of hemp-derived THC beverages, the Center believes it is important to better understand public sentiment,” said Kelly Roberson, Executive Director of the Center for Alcohol Policy. “We found that consumers are generally not aware of these products or of their effects, and once they are aware of them, they want them to be regulated.”
Three major findings emerged from the survey:
- A large majority of Americans are unaware and confused about the existence, availability and intoxicating effects of hemp-derived THC beverages.
- After receiving a brief description of hemp-derived THC beverages, a strong majority of Americans support regulating the sale and availability of these products.
- Moreover, a majority of Americans see the existing successful alcohol regulatory framework as an appropriate model for the future regulation of hemp-derived THC beverages, should they be made available in a state. The Center’s most recent alcohol regulation sentiment survey found that 85% of Americans are satisfied with the existing system for purchasing alcohol in their respective states.
Find more details on the hemp-THC beverage survey results here.
The survey was conducted by New Bridge Strategy and used a sample of 1,011 adults aged 21 and older across the United States. Interviews were conducted online, with the sample proportionally distributed and demographically representative of this population.
The Center for Alcohol Policy endeavors to educate policymakers, regulators and the public about alcohol’s uniqueness and its regulation. This includes education around effective and appropriate state-based regulation of alcohol, an intoxicating beverage. As part of this mission, the Center regularly commissions national public opinion surveys to gauge public sentiment on alcohol regulation and related issues. For more than a decade, these surveys have provided valuable insights into Americans’ views on alcohol policy, emphasizing that legislative decisions, whether through action or inaction, impact all residents of a jurisdiction, including those who do not consume the product.