Uncle Arnie’s, one of the fastest-growing THC and hemp-infused beverage brands in the U.S., announced it has closed a $7.5 million Series A strategic growth raise to fuel its next phase of expansion. The round was co-led by Mindset Capital and Delta Emerald Ventures, with participation from strategic investor Harry Rubin, a founding partner of the Boston Beer Company (producer of Samuel Adams beer), who joins the company’s board of directors.
Positioned as a strategic growth raise rather than a capital need, the Series A will enable Uncle Arnie’s to nearly double its team from 40 to 75 employees over the next year, expand into new state markets, and deepen its presence in high-performing regions. The company has achieved close to 100 % year-over-year growth since inception and projects the same trajectory through 2026.
Founded in California in 2020, Uncle Arnie’s quickly became the #1 cannabis beverage brand in the state. Expanding in 2024 into the fast-growing hemp-derived THC category, the company leveraged its know-how, branding, and success from the regulated market to establish a strong presence in new retail channels. Today, the brand is leading in multiple markets nationwide, with rapid growth driven by the momentum of hemp-derived retail.
The company has also been investing in leadership and infrastructure to prepare for its next stage of growth. Most recently, Uncle Arnie’s brought on Chief Marketing Officer Brian Miesieski, a beverage industry veteran of AB InBev, Diageo and SweetWater Brewing Company, to lead brand strategy and marketing initiatives in the U.S.
Looking ahead, Uncle Arnie’s is now in 16 markets and expanding to 3 more in the near term. This growth builds on the brand’s five years of success in the cannabis beverage market and positions it for even greater mainstream reach. The company plans to continue building its sales and marketing infrastructure to support long-term category leadership.
Collective Project, a Canadian cannabis beverage brand known for its bold flavour pairings, real fruit juices, and creative can design collaborations with emerging artists, has officially launched in the U.S. with direct-to-consumer shipping in 25 states.1
This major milestone follows Collective Project’s acquisition earlier this year by Organigram Global, Canada’s #1 cannabis company by market share. After a soft launch of its sparkling juice lineup in select states in Fall 2024, Collective Project built early excitement for its flavourful, fruit-forward beverages. The brand now expands to consumers across the country with full-scale e-commerce and the debut of its new sparkling lemonades – all crafted with real fruit juice, high-quality ingredients, and hemp-derived THC.
At Collective Project, every can is a canvas. Every beverage is a collaboration between the brand’s flavour creators and visual artists from around the world, transforming every product into a functional piece of art. Through this global creative platform, Collective Project brings together expressive design, great taste, and a modern way to enjoy cannabis.
“Collective Project is rooted in flavour and creativity,” said Megan McCrae, SVP, Corporate Strategy & International Growth, Organigram Global. “We’re proud to partner with artists from around the world to create cans that reflect the vibrant community behind our brand. And as the hemp-derived Delta-9 space grows, we see a real opportunity to offer consumers a modern, social alternative to alcohol – one that brings together great taste, thoughtful ingredients, and artistic expression.”
Sparkling juices
The sparkling juice lineup offers rich, effervescent flavours made with true-to-fruit blends for an unmatched full-body experience. Currently available in 4-packs (12oz cans):
- Blood Orange, Yuzu & Vanilla (available in 5mg and 10mg THC)
- Mango, Pineapple & Coconut (available in 5mg and 10mg THC)
- Raspberry Vanilla (available in 10mg THC)
New: Sparkling lemonades
The sparkling lemonades offer a zesty, low-calorie, and low-sugar option that adds a bubbly twist to every celebration. Available in 4-packs (12oz cans):
- Classic Lemonade (available in 5mg THC)
- Raspberry Lemonade (available in 5mg THC)
- Cherry Limeade (available in 5mg THC)
All beverages are made with high quality hemp-derived THC and are tested by independent third parties for consistency, quality, and compliance. With a variety of THC levels, there’s a dose for every kind of cannabis experience and lifestyle. Collective Project products are available for purchase by consumers 21+.
1Collective Project is now shipping to Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Wynk™, a award-winning cannabis seltzer brand, announced the launch of Mandarin Pomelo, a limited-time summer release crafted to pair perfectly with real-life get-togethers — from backyard BBQs to poolside hangs.
“We’ve seen growing demand for fresh, seasonal flavours that offer something different from our core lineup,” said Angus Rittenburg, CEO of Wynk. “It’s an exciting time of momentum for the brand, and Mandarin Pomelo, with its citrus-forward profile, sets the tone for what we expect to be a standout summer.”
Mandarin Pomelo brings a vibrant splash of citrus to Wynk’s lineup, blending juicy mandarin with the tart, aromatic notes of pomelo for a crisp, sunny flavour that tastes like summer in a can. Wynk seltzers feature a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD for a light, balanced buzz perfect for afternoons that turn into evenings. It’s a refreshing option for the warmer days ahead, ideal for summer social hangs.
Mandarin Pomelo is alcohol-free, zero-calorie, and zero-sugar — crafted for sipping and socialising without the hangover. Each 12 oz can contains 5 mg THC and 5 mg CBD, offering a smooth, sessionable buzz with a quick onset and mellow finish.
The release of Mandarin Pomelo also reflects Wynk’s continued growth, creating new retail footprint opportunities alongside product innovation. With strong in-store placement and expanding consumer demand, the brand is positioned to increase visibility and drive trial throughout the summer season.
Mandarin Pomelo is available in the US now, but only for a limited time. Order online at drinkwynk.com or find it near you at drinkwynk.com/pages/find-in-store.
Happi Glow and Happi Nightcap boast minor cannabinoids paired with functional mushrooms
Cannabis-infused seltzer brand Happi is pioneering a new path in the cannabis beverage space with Happi Glow and Happi Nightcap. These groundbreaking functional beverages are perfect for day and night, respectively. Created with a unique blend of minor cannabinoids and non-psychedelic lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms, these formulas are the first of their kind, with Happi filing a patent application covering the formulation for the products.
Happi Glow is available in a citrusy, bright Blood Orange Ginger flavour. Each can has 5 mg of THC, 5 mg of CBD, 3 mg of CBG, and 2 mg of CBN. Perfect for daytime, Happi Glow boasts the benefit of lion’s mane mushroom, which can help promote calm and focus to keep you clear-headed.
Happi Nightcap is available in Turkish Apple Tea, featuring notes of crisp apple and warm spices. Each can has 5 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBN. Ideal for evening, Happi Nightcap brings together soothing reishi mushrooms with a blend of minor cannabinoids to help you settle into a peaceful slumber so you wake up refreshed.
Each formula is vegan, gluten-free, and made with simple, all-natural ingredients. In addition to Glow and Nightcap, the brand also features two original flavours: Lemon Elderflower and Raspberry Honeysuckle.
- Happi Glow: 30 calories, 5mg THC, 5mg CBD, 3mg CBG, 2mg CBN, Carbonated Water, Organic Orange Juice, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Blood Orange Juice, Natural Flavors, Hemp Extract, Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract, Vitamin C, Potassium Sorbate
- Happi Nightcap: 30 calories, 5 mg THC, 5 mg CBN, Carbonated Water, Organic Apple Juice, Organic Orange Juice, Organic Honey, Natural Flavours, Hemp Extract, Vitamin C, Organic Reishi Mushroom Extract, Potassium Sorbate
Happi Glow and Nightcap are now available at select retailers in Minnesota (US) and online.
Lagunitas Brewing Company, the brewery responsible for the #1 selling IPA in the world and backed by a 25-year history of making dank, funky and creative craft brews, announced the launch of Hi-Fi Hops. This IPA-inspired sparkling water is made using everything Lagunitas knows about hops and is infused with THC and/or CBD (depending on your vibe). At its core, Hi-Fi Hops is inspired by IPA, tastes as refreshing as water (no calories or carbs!) and gives the chill of sun-grown cannabis from AbsoluteXtracts, a CannaCraft brand.
“Hi-Fi Hops is not the first chapter in the love affair between cannabis and Lagunitas, but it is one of the most exciting,” said Maria Stipp, CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company. “The idea of being a part of a no-calorie beverage infused with cannabis seemed like a perfect next step in our product innovation, and a natural way to marry our past with our future.” Hi-Fi Hops, is available in two dosages, one with 10 mg of THC and one with 5 mg of THC and 5mg of CBD. While Hi-Fi Hops is an awesome beverage that anyone 21 or over can enjoy, the manufacturer wants to keep it away from kiddos, which is why the beverage comes in child-resistant packaging.
