Lobbyists representing major alcohol companies have urged U.S. state attorneys general to press Congress to maintain an upcoming federal ban on cannabis-derived THC beverages, Vinetur reported on October 31.

According to the report, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Molson Coors and Diageo participated in the lobbying effort, opposing any congressional move to delay or weaken the ban. The effort seeks to protect the conventional alcoholic beverage market from competition from emerging cannabis drinks.

The lobbying campaign puts the timing and strength of the federal ban at the center of a competitive issue for both categories. Keeping the ban in place could constrain THC beverage businesses, while a delay or change in its scope could affect how those products compete with alcoholic drinks.

The eventual effect will depend on whether Congress changes the ban and how any resulting rules apply to the products concerned. The lobbying effort itself does not establish what action lawmakers will take.