If you’ve followed the THC industry over the past several months, you’ve noticed one thing: uncertainty. Every conversation comes back to the same question: What happens next?
For most consumers, that’s a confusing question. They walk into a liquor store, buy a legal, tested, low-dose hemp THC beverage or edible, and reasonably assume the rules aren’t changing overnight. The reality is more complicated.
Last November, Congress passed legislation changing the federal definition of hemp, setting up a late-2026 deadline that could reshape the industry. Lawmakers have since considered delaying implementation, including an extension into December, awaiting final action as of press time. But the larger question remains unresolved: If the underlying law takes effect as written, many of today’s hemp-derived THC products would no longer qualify under federal hemp law.
Between now and December, several outcomes remain possible.Congress could let the law take effect as written. It could delay implementation while lawmakers keep working toward a longer-term solution. Or it could replace the current approach with legislation that regulates hemp-derived THC rather than effectively prohibiting much of today’s marketplace. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act is one such effort, and it would give hemp-derived beverages a clear federal framework instead of
leaving them outside the law.
While no one knows where Congress will land, I think, as a retailer, there’s a better question: How do we prepare for every outcome? Minnesota enters this period from a different position than most of the country. When low-dose THC first emerged, many states had little or no regulatory structure. Products appeared on shelves with inconsistent testing, labeling, and oversight, and consumers often had no idea what they were buying.
Minnesota chose a different path. Our state built one of the country’s earliest regulatory frameworks for low-dose THC. Products are tested. Labels are standardized. Sales are restricted to adults, and oversight continues to evolve through the Office of Cannabis Management. No regulatory system is perfect, but Minnesota created a marketplace that emphasizes consumer safety while allowing responsible businesses to grow.
That matters. Even if federal law changes, Minnesota isn’t starting from scratch. We have experienced manufacturers, knowledgeable retailers, established compliance systems, and consumers who understand the category. Federal action might modestly complicate the path forward, but it doesn’t eliminate the opportunity.
At Top Ten Liquors, we made a decision shortly after Congress acted last November: We aren’t waiting to see what happens. The numbers are why. Across our stores, we now carry the largest assortment of THC beverages and edibles in the state at the lowest prices. Approximately 1 in 4 of our customers have made a THC purchase this year. That isn’t a curiosity or a passing trend—it’s a pillar of our business, and it’s a category our customers have chosen deliberately.
So, we’re continuing to invest. We’re expanding employee education, so team members can confidently help customers understand products, dosing, effects, and responsible use. Helping someone understand the difference between a 10-mg beverage and a 5-mg edible is just as important as helping them choose between two bourbons or Napa Cabernets.
We’re also working with responsible manufacturers, investing in selection and value, and building flexibility into the business. Whether federal law takes effect as written, implementation is delayed, or Congress creates a new framework, we’ll adapt. Retail has always been about serving customers, not predicting politics.
There is something policymakers should keep in mind, though. If these products disappear from regulated retail, the demand for them doesn’t disappear, too. Customers who buy a tested, labeled, and age-verified product from a licensed store today will buy something else, somewhere else—online from sellers with no accountability or through channels with no interest in whether the customer understands what they’re purchasing. Prohibition doesn’t remove the product. It removes the testing, the labeling, the age check, the tax revenue, and the person behind the counter who can answer a question. We’re proud to have figured out a path to continue in the category but look forward to federal legislation to make product available nationwide.
That’s the real choice in front of Congress. Not whether Americans will consume low-dose THC, but whether
they’ll do it inside a regulated system—and Minnesota has already shown that one can work.
Like every emerging industry, this category will keep evolving. Some brands will succeed, and others won’t. Regulations will change, and businesses will adapt. That’s normal. What won’t change is our commitment to our customers.
While no one knows what Congress will decide, one thing is certain: Minnesota has built a strong foundation for this category, and we intend to be part of its future.
