These trends indicate that the beverage industry is in a state of exciting transition. THC seltzers are climbing to the top of beverage trends and winning over consumers nationwide. Diana Eberlein, chair of the Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives, emphasizes the importance of understanding the regulations surrounding these products. The Coalition includes hemp beverage producers, industry associates as well as alcohol retailers and distributors. Their tireless advocacy helps shape clear and consistent laws that address the risks and uncertainties surrounding hemp and cannabis-derived beverages.
As it stands now, 18 states have adopted hemp legislation. Many of these rules are identically or virtually identically applied as they are for alcohol. The 2018 Farm Bill, passed during the administration of President Donald Trump, created a new federal legal framework for cannabis. Industrial hemp, making it clear that cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC are considered hemp. Cannabis with a THC content above 0.3% is considered marijuana.
The Landscape of THC Beverages
THC seltzers come in a wide range of potencies, some as little as 2.5 mg THC per serving while others hit you with 100 mg THC. This broad spectrum in potency gives consumers the ability to select products that best fit their preferences and tolerance levels. Would-be users need to consider the maze of state and federal regulation that controls these drinks. As Eberlein notes, the Coalition is working diligently to ensure that the industry operates within legal parameters while promoting safe consumption practices.
Cannabis byproducts, such as cannabinoid oil, fall under this regulation and so must stay below the legal limit of 0.3% THC. This new regulation is designed to protect consumers from accidentally consuming marijuana when they choose hemp-derived beverages.
Health Considerations and Expert Insights
Staci Gruber, who directs the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. She acts as an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, providing extensive background on health effects of THC seltzers. Though these drinks can provide a unique experience to customers, they come with adverse reactions. People have reported rapid heart rates, nausea, anxiousness, and paranoia upon using it.
Gruber’s ongoing research is extremely important to further our understanding of cannabinoids and their effects on mental health and cognitive function. Consumers are rapidly discovering THC seltzers as a flavorful, low-calorie substitute for alcohol. It is equally important to understand the benefits they provide and the potential risks that these products may bring.
The Future of THC Seltzers
The rising popularity of THC seltzers is a clear reflection of the changing consumer beverage landscape towards a more varied beverage portfolio. Organizations such as the Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives are already front and center in guiding advocacy efforts and shaping regulatory advances. Thanks to their determination, the future of hemp-derived drinks is brighter than ever.
States are adopting these regulations in one form or another every day. At the same time, consumers are increasingly looking for alcoholic replacements, promising an even bigger market for THC seltzers. Eberlein and her coalition aim to ensure that safety and legality remain at the forefront as this new category of adult beverages evolves.
