The landscape for hemp-derived THC beverages is shifting fast — and one of the largest convenience-store chains in North America, Circle K, is positioning itself at the center of the action. As 2026 approaches, what had once seemed like fringe product lines are being transformed into a national retail rollout.
Timeline: From Pilot to Nationwide Rollout
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Circle K (via its parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard) explored co-locating medical cannabis dispensaries alongside its stores in Florida, through a partnership with Green Thumb Industries — but regulators rejected that plan. WEBSITE: GreenPharms Arizona |
| Early 2025 | Testing of hemp-THC beverages begins in Georgia and some other markets. READ MORE: CSP Daily News |
| October 2025 | Circle K announces it will begin selling hemp-derived THC drinks via a partnership with Horticulture Co. and the brand new THC soda line from former NBA star Allen Iverson. Launch set for Q4 2025 in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. READ MORE: Prepared Foods |
| Late 2025 (Q4) | First Iverson-branded THC drinks hit Circle K shelves in southeastern U.S. states. |
| 2026 (Planned) | Circle K aims to expand hemp-THC beverage sales to as many as 3,000 stores nationwide, wherever state laws permit hemp-derived THC products under federal guidelines. |
As of late 2025, more than 900 Circle K stores in Florida alone reportedly carry hemp-derived THC beverages. READ MORE: The Marijuana Herald
Why This Move Matters — Big Time
– Mainstream Retail Meets Cannabis-Adjacent Products
Circle K isn’t a boutique dispensary — it’s a convenience store chain that millions of Americans visit weekly. By putting THC-infused beverages on those shelves, the company is effectively normalizing psychoactive hemp products in everyday retail contexts. Analysts call the move “the largest by any chain retailer” in the hemp-THC space so far. READ MORE: Cannabis Risk Manager
Horticulture Co.’s CEO, Saf Sadiq, said the partnership “makes the brand one of the most accessible in the space overnight” — a massive shift for a category that was once niche.
– Changing Consumer Behavior: THC Drinks as the New Booze?
With alcohol consumption plateauing — and with growing interest in wellness, “functional beverages,” and lower-impact alternatives — hemp-THC drinks are positioned as a legal, lighter, and more socially acceptable option. READ MORE: Pac Garden Assets
Some consumers, especially those new to cannabis, are treating these drinks as a softer, more approachable entry point into THC use: no smoke, no paraphernalia, just a beverage that delivers a mild psychoactive or relaxing effect. READ MORE: Louisville Public Media
– A Retail Model That Bypasses Traditional Dispensaries
Because hemp-derived THC drinks fall under the federal definition of hemp (as per the 2018 Farm Bill), they are not subject to the same strict regulatory regimes as medical or recreational cannabis. That means Circle K can sell them without operating as a dispensary, offering “cannabis-adjacent” products in mainstream retail.
This approach sidesteps many of the legal and regulatory hurdles traditional cannabis retailers face, allowing rapid expansion in states that allow hemp-derived cannabinoids.
What Circle K Is Selling — The First Products
- The first wave of products will come under an Allen Iverson–branded line, developed by Horticulture Co. and marketed via the brand Viola.
- Each can reportedly contains 10 mg of hemp-derived THC.
- Circle K will carry exclusive products — including so-called “Sneaker Box” variety packs that tie into Iverson’s legacy and sneaker-culture aesthetic. READ MORE: Beverage Industry
As Horticulture’s CEO puts it, the rollout blends “brand credibility and consumer confidence … in one of the most trusted retail environments.” READ MORE: Beverage Industry
Challenges Ahead — Legal, Regulatory, and Public-Perception Hurdles
Federal Uncertainty & Possible Crackdowns
Though hemp-derived THC drinks have, until now, operated in a legal gray zone under the 2018 Farm Bill, that may be changing. Some proposed federal and state regulation efforts seek to tighten restrictions on intoxicating hemp derivatives, especially ones with psychoactive effects.
If lawmakers decide to impose strict potency caps or new compliance standards, products like those Circle K is selling could be among the first to feel the squeeze.
State-by-State Patchwork of Legalities
Because each state treats hemp-derived THC differently, Circle K’s expansion will be uneven. Stores in states where cannabis-derived products remain illegal may never receive the drinks, limiting availability compared to the company’s full 10,000-store footprint.
Retailers and the hemp industry are intimately aware of this environment; some see compliance and regulatory uncertainty as a core risk for long-term viability.
Public Health, Safety, and Public Perception
Putting psychoactive drinks next to sodas and energy drinks in convenience stores raises fresh questions about responsible retailing — especially with regard to ID verification, dosage clarity, labeling, and potential youth access. Critics argue that convenience store environments may not match the regulatory stringency of licensed cannabis dispensaries.
Furthermore, many consumers may not fully understand the difference between hemp-derived THC and traditional cannabis-derived THC, or the potential delayed onset and potency of edible or drinkable THC products.
What This Means for the THC Beverage Sector — And for Consumers
- Mainstream normalization of THC
With Circle K embracing THC drinks, hemp-derived THC is becoming part of everyday retail rather than a niche product locked into dispensaries. For many consumers — especially those curious but inexperienced with cannabis — this could represent their first legal THC experience. - A potential new mass-market channel
For producers, the shift opens massive new distribution potential: 3,000+ Circle K stores by 2026, nationwide reach, and exposure to customers who may never set foot in a dispensary. - Disruption to traditional cannabis retail models
As hemp-THC drinks expand through convenience chains, dispensaries may face competition not just from each other, but from retail stores offering quick, low-barrier access. The business dynamics of cannabis might shift — from high-friction dispensary sales to low-friction convenience retail. - Regulatory and public policy crossroads
The rollout is happening just as the legal and regulatory environment for hemp-derived THC is under increasing scrutiny. What happens in 2026 — at both the federal and state levels — could determine whether this wave becomes a long-term transformation or a short-lived experiment.
What to Watch in 2026
- Will Circle K hit its goal of 3,000 stores carrying hemp-THC beverages? And if not, what gets in the way — state-by-state bans, regulatory crackdowns, or public push-back?
- Will new legislation from Congress or state legislatures redefine what hemp-derived THC products are legal — or impose potency, labeling, or retail restrictions?
- How will consumers respond to THC drinks becoming a routine retail item: a new lifestyle beverage, a novelty, or — for some — a gateway?
- How will traditional cannabis dispensaries adapt? Will they pivot, collaborate, or fight back?
First Major Retailer Push
The move by Circle K to launch hemp-derived THC beverages nationwide is more than just a retail strategy — it’s a potential inflection point for the cannabis and hemp sector in the United States. By placing intoxicating beverages on the shelves of convenience stores, Circle K becomes one of the first major retailers to treat THC products as everyday consumer goods.
If all goes according to plan, and assuming favorable regulatory conditions, 2026 could be the year hemp-THC drinks go from novelty to normalized. For consumers, that means easier access. For retailers and producers, that means scale and visibility. For policymakers and public-health advocates — it may prompt tough conversations about how we regulate, monitor, and understand psychoactive hemp products in mainstream society.
We’re witnessing what could be the start of a real THC beverage retail revolution — and Circle K just might be driving the first car off the lot.
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