“My sales have tripled”: The incredible craze for cannabis drinks in the United States

Cannabis-infused beverages are rapidly becoming a preferred choice for many Americans, offering a novel alternative to alcohol. These drinks, infused with THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, are increasingly found in supermarkets and are shedding the stigma once associated with marijuana.

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My sales have tripled over the past year.

Consumers like Cecilia Pfaff in North Carolina are serving these THC-tonics at social gatherings, noting that they offer a convivial experience without the harsh morning-after effects. Pat Clougherty, a pharmaceutical representative, states that these beverages have largely replaced his evening consumption of wine and beer, as they lead to less severe hangovers.

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Almost everyone I know - who all work - consumes a THC-derived product, in one form or another.

This shift is reflected in declining alcohol consumption rates, with a 2025 Gallup poll showing the lowest recorded rate since 1939. Concurrently, the cannabis beverage market is booming. Trent Mooring, founder of the THC-infused drink brand 'Kaya,' has seen his sales triple in the past year, largely due to distribution through a major supermarket chain.

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It has replaced a large part of what we used to drink in the evening.

Market analysis firm Euromonitor projects significant growth, estimating THC beverage sales at $238 million in 2023, rising to $720 million in 2025, and surpassing $1 billion in 2026. However, the legal landscape remains complex, with marijuana classified as illegal federally, though legal in many states. Products derived from hemp with lower THC content have been federally legal since 2018, paving the way for these new consumer goods.

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We feel less of the effects when we wake up.