As more Americans embrace sobriety or explore alcohol alternatives, a growing number are turning to THC-infused beverages. In South Florida, the trend has gained momentum, but a proposed regulatory change could soon reshape the market.<\/p>\n
At Funky Buddha Brewery <\/a>in Oakland Park, known for its craft beer since opening in 2013, a new product line has emerged: THC seltzers.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say about six months ago we launched the product,\u201d said co-founder Ryan Sentz. The beverages contain measured doses of THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, offering consumers an alternative to alcohol.<\/p>\n Sentz said the decision to expand into THC drinks was driven by demand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just paying attention and seeing that this is what the consumer wanted,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was growing, and it was something that we felt comfortable that we could do and do it well.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the future of those products remains uncertain.<\/p>\n Under the 2018 federal Farm Bill,<\/a> hemp-derived THC products gained a foothold in the market, provided they contained no more than 0.3% THC by weight, excluding water. That framework allowed THC beverages to be widely produced and sold.<\/p>\n A new provision, set to take effect in November, would change how THC limits are measured \u2014 shifting from a percentage-based threshold to a strict milligram cap. Under the proposal, products would be limited to 0.4 milligrams of THC per serving.<\/p>\n \u201cTo put it into perspective, that\u2019s an extremely small dose,\u201d said Imran Ahmad, an associate professor at Florida International University. \u201cIt\u2019s not psychoactive at that level.\u201d<\/p>\n Most THC beverages on the market \u2014 including those produced by Funky Buddha \u2014 contain between 5 and 10 milligrams per serving, far exceeding the proposed cap.<\/p>\n If the rule takes effect, Sentz said the company would likely have to stop selling the drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll certainly take away an avenue that we\u2019re doing,\u201d Sentz said. \u201cNot only for what we\u2019re producing for ourselves, but we are co-packing a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside its Oakland Park facility, Funky Buddha also manufactures THC beverages for other South Florida brands, including Mellow Fellow and Miami-based Amigos. As traditional beer sales have slowed, Sentz said the THC segment has helped offset declines.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the stigma around THC has changed a lot from where it used to be,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are trying to be a little more health conscious. Newer generations aren\u2019t drinking as much.\u201d<\/p>\n Research supports that shift. According to Circana<\/a>, more than half of Gen Z and millennial consumers are reducing alcohol consumption or avoiding it altogether.<\/p>\n