Let's also give a shout out to the Home Wine and Beer Trade Association.
Here is a bit of history about how legalization came about:
The HWBTA, founded in 1975, is an association of companies and individuals involved in the home beer and wine trade, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, authors, and publishers. Current membership is about 500. Members are located primarily in North America, but overseas manufacturers are well represented. The association has an executive secretary who handles administration and publication of an annual directory of members. The HWBTA sponsors an annual trade conference where members met and exchange ideas and information and discuss industry problems. The HWBTA was instrumental in gaining the legalization of home brewing in the United States in 1979. Then-president Nancy Crosby and beer author Lee Coe worked closely with Senator Alan Cranston to introduce and pass legalization legislation through the U.S. Congress.
