Drink It Up: The Rise of Cannabis Beverages

Drink It Up: The Rise of Cannabis Beverages

Highlights

  • The 2018 and 2025 Farm Bills paved the way for companies to create drinks and edibles that contain legal, hemp-based THC.
  • These products contain THC in amounts that consumers can actually feel.
  • Topography debuted two drinks in 2026 without the bitter hemp aftertaste that some other THC drinks have: Yerba Mate Lemon-Mint and Mixed Berry Seltzer Trailblazers.

 

Cannabis drinks are more popular than ever. Formally confined to dispensaries, you can now find them at stores, bars, restaurants and other shops. Depending on where you live, you might see them sold at concerts, arenas and large events—like Riverfront Nights in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

If you’ve wondering why these drinks are all the rage, read on. We’ll cover the most compelling reasons right here.

Let’s Get Legal

Don’t worry, we won’t bore you with too many specifics from the 2018 Farm Bill and its sequel, the 2025 Farm Bill. In short, the passing of the federal 2018 Farm Bill meant hemp was no longer a Schedule I controlled substance, as long as its delta-9 THC content didn’t exceed 0.3% measured by dry weight. The 2025 bill slightly changed this definition to include total THC content of the hemp plant, including delta-8 and HHC.

While we won’t dive into the world of different cannabinoid acronyms here, the biggest takeaway is this: Even at such a small percentage of dry weight, drinks and other products could now legally contain enough THC for you to feel its effects when you consume them.

With this legal opening, companies were quick to meet the demand of customers, and states rushed forward to accommodate them. In 2022, Minnesota opened the floodgates by explicitly legalizing hemp-derived THC products. Other states soon followed with their own laws, and a new industry was born.

This Is Where the Fun Begins

While reports vary, it certainly seems like Americans are drinking less alcohol these days. Some don’t like the taste. Others are concerned about the health effects. And still others are just looking for a different vibe when they’re hanging out, whether they’re at a social event or chilling at home.

This desire for a new adult beverage has helped THC drinks become a multi-billion dollar industry in just a few years. Major venues like the United Center arena started selling THC-infused beverages this year, and even the legendary music festival Lollapalooza has caught on. Bonnaroo and Riverbeat Music Fest have also started selling hemp drinks to concertgoers.

Now That’s a Tasty Beverage

Cannabis drinks are everywhere now. If you’re looking to try one, you’re spoiled for choice. So where do you begin?

For us, we were tired of hemp drinks that tasted like, well, hemp. Hemp can have a bitter, unpleasant aftertaste, and many THC drinks do, too.

Locally produced in Chattanooga, we spent the time and effort to make sure we debuted with two flavors that actually taste great. Don’t believe us? Find us at a tasting near you to try our Yerba Mate Lemon-Mint and Mixed Berry Trailblazers.

The Yerba Mate is a smooth, refreshing tea, while the Mixed Berry has the perfect amount of fruity fizz—we call it the seltzer that doesn’t suck, and most people seem to agree. You can find 10 mg cans for newbies, and 30 mg cans for seasoned adventurers. And with a resealable lid, you can blaze trails at your own pace.

 

Author: Josh Garcia

 

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