US-based THC and CBD goods producer Upstate Elevator has launched its first line of hemp-free beverages.
The lineup includes two drinks: Pink Grapefruit Uplift Spritz and Blackberry Zinger Unwind Soda, which are both “infused” with kava and kanna plant extracts.
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A third product, Lychee Blood Orange Uplift Spritz, is due to launch later this month.
Upstate Elevator said each beverage is made with a blend of “clinically studied Zembrin kanna, noble kava root extract, and L-theanine”.
The Vermont-based, family-owned company positions their new spritzes and sodas as “a botanical alternative” to alcohol and THC drinks.
Upstate Elevator founder and CEO Dylan Raap said: “Consumers are ready for functional beverages they can actually feel that go beyond cannabinoids.
“The hemp industry has experienced significant change and uncertainty the past year, but our commitment to innovation and quality remains constant.
“Our new kanna & kava drinks allow us to explore new botanical ingredients and create a functional beverage experience that gives consumers more options while staying true to the craftsmanship and standards they expect from Upstate.”
The drinks will be sold for $5.99 per 12oz can, the company confirmed to Just Drinks.
Founded in 2017, the Vermont-based business sells THC and CBD drinks and gummies. It also sells other THC and CBD goods such as tinctures and capsules.
Pink Grapefruit Uplift Spritz and Blackberry Zinger Unwind Soda are available for purchase via the company’s website.
The group also plans to sell the new drinks through wholesale partners in Vermont, New Jersey and Georgia, however it did not confirm which retailers will stock the line.
Upstate Elevator currently sells its hemp beverages at The Fresh Market, Total Wine & More and Binny’s. Its products are also available at Goody Goody and other grocery and liquor stores across the US.
The company, which is majority owned by CEO Dylan Raap, sells exclusively in US. Its products are manufactured in Vermont.
Several other producers of THC have also launched lines of low-THC and functional beverages this year, ahead of US regulations, due to come into force later this year, that could tighten rules on the sale of hemp-derived drinks.
Last month, Cann, another US-based company, launched its first line of zero-THC beverages. California-based Nowadays also announced a low-THC drinks line this year.
This week, US lawmakers have introduced a bill to regulate THC drinks in a similar manner to alcohol, under the The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act.
Over the weekend, the US Senate approved a measure to delay planned federal hemp restrictions by one month, to 11 December.
That extension however still needs approval from the House of Representatives.
