Politics
Congress Should Regulate Hemp THC Drinks Like Alcohol Instead Of Banning Them, Former NFL Player Says (Op-Ed)
“Hemp beverages deserve the same kind of framework alcoholic beverages do. What I don’t believe is that the only two choices are an unregulated market or eliminating these products as a whole.”
By Micah Hyde, Former NFL Player
Alcohol has been around through many stages of my life. It’s been there at celebrations, dinners, countless nights out, college parties, game days, wins and losses. Like many, I drank socially, but one thing always remained true: I hated the way it made me feel, especially the morning after.
I spent 12 years in the National Football League (NFL), and as my career went on, that tradeoff made less and less sense. After a game, my body and mind had already been through enough. I was sore, tired and focused on recovering so I could do it all over again days later. It was depleting mentally, physically and emotionally. Adding a night of drinking only to feel even worse the next morning never appealed to me, and it was never worth it.
Toward the end of my career, I started looking for another option and eventually found low-dose hemp products. I could relax, enjoy a buzz with my friends and still wake up feeling like myself the next day, ready to perform. The problem was that I still wanted the experience of cracking open an ice cold beer, and that is where the idea of Hyde’s Hail Mary was born.
I wanted to create something that felt familiar, something I could have while watching a game, sitting around with friends or unwinding after a long day, without alcohol. Federal rules don’t allow THC to simply be added to beer, so I had to work with formulators to develop a malt-forward shandy that could deliver that same kind of experience in a completely different and better way.
I retired from the NFL in 2025 (Go Bills) and launched Hyde’s Hail Mary that August. My name may be on the can, but I am not just the face of the company. Building this brand has meant learning every part of the business, which I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed. From the formulation, lab testing and compliance to the QR codes printed on every can, I’m learning it all.
I spent my football career obsessing over details because every detail mattered, and I’ve brought that same mentality into my business. In fact, I can no longer look at a can sitting on a table without thinking about all that went into getting it there.
Today, Hail Mary has four flavors on shelves in Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin and New York. Our Apple Shandy, a flavor my wife developed, won a silver award at the LA Spirits Awards in our very first year. During home games, you can find our team outside of Highmark Stadium amongst the best fans in the world, handing out samples in a city that means everything to me and my family.
One of the biggest surprises has been understanding who our customers really are.
When we launched, I assumed we’d be targeting people in their twenties. To my surprise, a large part of our customer base stands between 35 and 55. Many are parents, and men and women buy the product at nearly the same rate. They are not necessarily looking to party, though maybe some are.
A lot of them are looking for the same thing I was: a way to unwind and enjoy something at the end of the day while still feeling good the next morning, and they keep coming back.
That is why what’s happening in Washington, D.C. matters beyond belief. Unless Congress acts, a new federal definition of hemp is scheduled to take effect on December 11. Among other changes, hemp-derived cannabinoids containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will no longer fall within the federal definition of hemp.
For beverages like Hyde’s Hail Mary, a product I take so much pride in, that would eliminate the product entirely.
The uncertainty is already affecting small businesses like mine.
Two distribution opportunities we spent months developing fell apart this year because distributors simply don’t know how this is going to play out. I don’t blame them, but it is absolutely unfortunate.
That uncertainty affects every decision we make, and matter of fact, it affects everything. Beverages have expiration dates, and we can’t manufacture unlimited inventory and leave it sitting in a warehouse while we wait for Washington to decide whether we will legally be able to sell. Our best-selling flavor is nearly sold out, and right now I have to think carefully about how much more we can produce.
I understand why lawmakers want rules and regulations around this industry, and I want rules, too. I believe hemp beverages should be regulated and sold only to adults 21 and over. Products should be independently tested and clearly labeled and they should be produced and sold by companies willing to follow real standards with integrity.
I would happily support reasonable limits on the amount of THC permitted in a beverage, including a 10 milligram per container cap. We already sell through licensed dispensaries in New York, and I have seen firsthand that a regulated system with testing, age checks and real oversight works.
Hemp beverages deserve the same kind of framework alcoholic beverages do.
What I don’t believe is that the only two choices are an unregulated market or eliminating these products as a whole. There is a responsible middle ground. Adults should be able to choose a properly tested and clearly labeled low-dose hemp beverage just as they would an alcoholic one.
These drinks have changed the way I experience the game I spent most of my life playing. I can go to a game, have something in hand, enjoy the atmosphere and stay completely present for the one thing I came to see: football. I can watch plays develop and enjoy the game without feeling like alcohol has to be a part of the experience, and I know plenty of people who want the same.
For me, Hail Mary started with a pretty simple question about why there wasn’t something better for people who wanted to unwind without alcohol, so I built it.
To every reader who enjoys hemp beverages, I invite you to visit the Hemp Beverage Alliance action center to tell Congress in a single sentence why you support safe, regulated sales.
What Congress does next will determine whether businesses like Hyde’s Hail Mary get the chance to keep going.
Micah Hyde, the founder of Hyde’s Hail Mary, is a former National Football League Player.
