Although cannabis beverages still are a niche market, the interest in this space remains expansive as ingredient suppliers have advanced the quality of CBD, THC and hemp solutions.

BDSA, Louisville, Colo., announced an update of its cannabis market forecast, a five-year rolling global forecast by country, state, province, channel and category. The report projects annual global cannabis sales to grow from $30 billion in 2021 to $57 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 13%. In the United States, cannabis sales will grow from $25 billion in 2021 to $42 billion in 2026, which will make up 75% of total global cannabis sales. 

Alternative Biologics, Inc., whose founders and team created Muscle Milk, developed a hemp infused energy drink: GYM WEED. Available in the U.S. market with three flavors ― Pear Pineapple, Stone Fruit and Tropical Berry ― GYM WEED provides balanced energy without the jittery, anxious feeling typically associated with energy drinks, it says.

Global cannabis sales for 2022 will reach just more than $35 billion, a jump of approximately 22% compared with 2021 sales of $29 billion, according to BDSA’s most recent five-year rolling market forecast update. BDSA, Louisville, Colo., forecasts global cannabis sales will surpass $61 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 16%.

Portfolio Beverages Inc. launched Real Good Tea, a line of functionally infused teas. The new line is formulated with all-natural ingredients, including botanicals, vitamins and high-quality hemp extract, providing a blend of taste and function, the company says.

Rockstar Energy Drink, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, is creating a new kind of energy drink with the launch of Rockstar Unplugged. Rockstar Unplugged focuses less on providing a big hit of energy and more focus on enhancing good vibes with ingredients like hemp seed oil and B vitamins, the company says. 

Bayou City Hemp Co., a leading hemp processing and extraction company, released its first CBD seltzer under its flagship brand: Mixer Elixir

Cann-Ade, a cannabis-infused beverage company, launched its hemp-derived water that is flavored and colored only with organic fruit juice, the company notes.

Crisp & Crude entered the beverage market with two collections of alcohol-free, ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails: Hemp + Botanical Terpenes and Botanical Terpenes.