Brewer Can Use "Try Legal Weed" Bottle Cap

Alcohol Bureau Said Beer Bottle Message's Pun On Town Name Promotes Drug Use

(AP)  A Northern California brewer who tangled with federal regulators over the caps on his beer bottles said Tuesday officials have given him permission to keep the message "Try Legal Weed."

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau had ordered Vaune Dillmann to stop using the caps, which are a play on the name of the town where he brews his beer - Weed. The bureau said the message amounts to a reference to illegal drugs.

Dillmann appealed and was preparing for a legal fight when he received a registered letter this week saying he can continue using the bottle caps. He shared a copy of the letter with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"Based on the context of the entire label, we agree that the phrase in question refers to the brand name of the product and does not mislead consumers," said the letter, dated July 31.

A message left after-hours for alcohol bureau spokesman Art Resnick in Washington, D.C., was not immediately returned Tuesday.

The dispute started last winter after Dillmann sent the bureau Mt. Shasta Brewing Co.'s proposed label for its latest beer, Lemurian Lager.

He included the same bottle cap he'd been using on his other five brews. This time, the U.S. Treasury branch rejected it because of federal laws that prohibit drug references on alcoholic beverages.

Since the dispute was publicized in April, Dillmann said he has received letters, phone calls and messages from more than 1,200 people around the world - including old friends and his high school football coach in his hometown of Milwaukee.

"We have not had one even remotely negative comment," he said.

Dillmann started his brewery in 2004 and named the company's first official brew for the town's founder, Abner Weed, a timber baron who eventually was elected to the state Senate.

All the attention has led to booming sales, but it's also been stressful, Dillmann said.

He plans to resume using the now-infamous bottle caps, which had been replaced with blanks while the dispute was pending.

Dillmann also drafted a letter thanking supporters. His message: "Weed fought the law and Weed won!"

[trillion1]

This goverment has gone nuts!

[talkingham]

Yes, Iraq must be free so the people of Iraq can own it it''s oil reserves (yeah right) but in the US you can''t take a leak without the govt pee - ing in your beer!

[ubrew12]

One of my favorite brews is ''Hemp Ale'' from Humbolt Brewing Company.

[slim1h2o]

Gov''ment intrusions are everywhere.

We really need to clip the "wings" of Gov''ment.

Then maybe we will be able to soar like the Eagle that we once were.

Instead of the silliness and sore-ness(in our backsides) that we now have.

[xmanborg]

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau are a bunch of heavy handed NAZIs and in bed and under the covers with the Bushie Administration.

The Govt needs to Regulate Weed, sell the growing rights and tax the krapp out of it & you people who say Weed is the gate way drug are 1000% WRONG. Alcohol is the Gate Way Drug!

God Created Weed for a Reason. I just had to say that so you very religious people and have something to respond too.

[random_radar]

We live in a democracy. The reason the government controls what we say or do or think is because we chose that. People may complain about the details, but fundamentally we have collectively agreed to control each other''s behavior.

If you don''t like it, well, there is a government official somewhere who has a re-education program to put you in when you are discovered. America created the chains of their own bondage and loves it.

[lewiston14]

It almost was crazy. They sent the letter just before the court got the case because they knew they would loose. The Legal weed cap was to promote a small brewers products and was not some sort of drug promotion. It was made in a town named weeds. Im sure 1000 of products based on where they were made fit into this picture. Hemp brew was a good example, how about Sp-ic and span a cleaning product of Aunt Jermia a pancake mix. They really need to get out of peoples faces but I forgot they are on vacation. How is your mid year 6 week vacation going so far? I bet they were were all tired fighting a bottle cap.

[honestabe8]

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the DEA and the ONDCP can go have biblical knowledge of themselves. Bull$hit prohibition.

[tx_doughboy]

So much for Democracy and the free market...

Freaking Communisits!

[mswolfestock]

And then y''all Rocket Scientists wonder why REAL (illegal) weed is so freaking popular . . . . .

[Syndicate]

Probably because it taste good and is less feeling.

[honestabe8]

mswolfestock: feels better than drinking, no hangovers.

[jt92202]

ROFLMAO!!!!!

[mydiatribe]

Only CBS would waste space posting this non-story.

CBS is a sycophant network that plays up to the LEFTIE Druggie LOSERS!

[honestabe8]

mydiatribe: perhaps you would be more fulfilled going off and having biblical knowledge of yourself.

[nothappyatall]

The bureau said the message amounts to a reference to illegal drugs."


As was said before, ''free speech'' in this country never existed, and there''s a perfect example of it- the FEDS telling a legal business what they can SAY on their label.

[kansas1946]

Thank goodness reason prevailed. Of course, much of our national reason is gone, a victim of the insane drug war. At least there has been one victory in the war, and this is it.

[kansas1946]

Only CBS would waste space posting this non-story.

CBS is a sycophant network that plays up to the LEFTIE Druggie LOSERS!


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Posted by mydiatribe at 06:40 PM : Aug 06, 2008
+ report abuse
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So why are you logged onto their site? You know, I think Faux News has a web-site, and probably a message board where you will find like minded people.

[honestabe8]

Yeah, the last thing they want to do on a bottle of beer is to promote drug use. After all, alcohol is no drug. What a bunch of stooges, shilling for a hypocritical policy.