What Happens to Hemp Drinks on December 11? A Plain-English Guide
It’s Black November, and as optimistic as we are, it’s hard not to feel a little in the dark. On December 11, a federal law is set to change what counts as hemp. Here’s what’s changing, what it means for your favorite drinks, and how you can still help.
We’re calling this month Black November. Partly for the deals, but mostly because, as optimistic as we are, it’s hard not to feel a little in the dark right now. On December 11, a federal law is set to change what counts as hemp, and with it, the future of drinks like ours.
We’ve been getting a lot of questions, so here’s what we know, in plain English.
What’s actually changing?
In November 2025, Congress passed a funding bill that rewrote the federal definition of hemp. Under the new rules, a finished hemp product can contain no more than 0.4mg of total THC per container.
It was originally set to take effect November 12, 2026. A stopgap funding bill signed in September pushed most of it back to December 11.
What does 0.4mg mean for your fridge?
For perspective: every Stigma Iced Tea, Tonic, and Seltzer has 10mg of THC per can, and each of our gummies has 5mg. A 0.4mg cap is less than one twenty-fifth of a single can.
That isn’t a new limit for hemp drinks. In practice, it’s the end of them. Unless Congress changes course, products like ours can’t be sold under federal hemp rules after December 10.
Isn’t Minnesota different?
Minnesota built one of the most thoughtful hemp frameworks in the country: 21+ sales, lab testing, clear labels, and a 10mg-per-drink limit. That state law doesn’t vanish on December 11.
The federal change still matters, though. It affects how hemp products can be sold and shipped across state lines, and how much of this industry operates day to day. We’re working through exactly what it means for Stigma, and we’ll share as soon as we know.
Is it a done deal?
Not yet. Congress returns on November 9, and government funding runs out the same day the ban takes effect: December 11. That means one more must-pass bill, and one more real chance to replace the ban with regulation.
Farmers, small businesses, and lawmakers from both parties are pushing for rules that make sense: 21+ sales, lab testing, clear labels, and fair taxes. That’s the model Minnesota already has, and it works.
What you can do
Write to your representatives. It takes a few minutes on our Take Action page, and it’s the single most useful thing you can do for hemp right now. [TAKE ACTION LINK]
Stock up on your favorites. All month, Black November is our thank-you to the people who built Stigma: 50% off our Month Supply Bundles (32 cans, $79.99) with code BLACKNOV, plus a free bag of gummies with every order while supplies last. Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. [SHOP LINK]
Stay in the loop. We’ll email the moment anything changes, good news or bad.
Why we’re not giving up
Our family started Stigma in 2018 to make clean, consistent hemp drinks for real life. Today you’ll find us on 3,000+ shelves in 30 states, and every reorder and every “where can I find this near me?” message got us here.
Whatever December 11 brings, we’ll keep fighting for a future where hemp is regulated, not erased. Thank you for fighting with us.
Regulate, don’t ban.
