Cannabis sales are surging across states where it is becoming legal to use these products. The state of Texas is no exception; and with the largest medical cannabis provider launching a new cannabis-based beverage called Elevate, the state may see a surge in its use.
As the state’s first legal GBG-based drink, Elevate was created to help patients manage anxiety, depression, pain, and inflammation. Elevate provides small, one-ounce bottles, each containing equal parts of THC and CBG, or cannabigerol. THC is the main active compound in marijuana while CBG is a natural cannabinoid that does not contain psychoactive properties.
In states like Oklahoma, where less stringent marijuana laws have long been in place, cannabis drinks are readily available to medical marijuana cardholders. But interestingly, Texas does not have a specified medical marijuana program. Use is governed by the state’s Compassionate Use Program, which was passed by the Texas state legislature in 2015. In 2023, lawmakers attempted to expand the list of conditions eligible to partake in medical marijuana but did not succeed. Regardless, Texans who do not qualify for this program are still able to purchase products with low levels of THC in some cases. The state’s help law legalized the sale of hemp products that contain 0.3% or less of delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC, a derivative, is also legal within the state.
According to BDS Analytics, the cannabis beverage category made up a small amount of the legal market, having brought in only 1% of total cannabis sales in 2021. The retail sales in that same study found that 5% of those sales were from edibles such as gummies and drinks. This BDS Analytics study also states that the strongest performances come in states such as Nevada and Maryland. However, it also claims that states with a lower count of cannabis beverage brands may offer “great opportunity for entry and innovation.”
Nico Richardson, the CEO of Texas Original, the company that created Elevate, states that Elevate was “purpose-built to address a need we identified within our patient base: a liquid-based, easy-dose product that works quickly.” The Texas Original website states that onset typically occurs in 15 to 60 minutes after taking the beverage shot, and provides uplifting relief with simple dosing. Elevate is vegan, gluten-free, and contains no artificial dyes or flavors. According to the National Library of Medicine, the use of ginger and turmeric within the drink can even help alleviate inflammation.
In treating and managing symptoms such as pain, anxiety, appetite loss, depression, and inflammation, Elevate’s cannabis drink – which has a typical lasting duration of between 2 to 8 hours – will offer a way for users who partake to have lasting effects without having to worry about smoke or cooking odors seeping into the surrounding areas of a homeplace. Elevate also states that, when taken with THC, CBG may also produce a more energizing, focused, balanced, and uplifting effect. As cannabis use continues to be on the rise in the United States, it’s clear that the ever-expanding market of products will offer new ways to experience its effects.
