A version of the following article appeared in the August 3, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Breweries and bars are urging lawmakers to regulate cannabis-infused drinks instead of banning them
THC seltzers are available at some local bottle shops and chain stores, such as these at Total Wine & More in south Charlotte. They would be illegal under legislation under consideration by the General Assembly. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Charlotte Ledger)
North Carolina producers of THC seltzers, including several Charlotte breweries, want consumers of the cannabis-infused drinks to know that the state legislature could vote to ban them — maybe as soon as this week.
More than 80 businesses, including 16 in Charlotte, have written a letter opposing the General Assembly’s move to ban most hemp products. The legislation, which passed the N.C. Senate last month and is being considered by the N.C. House, is aimed at cracking down on intoxicating products that are mostly unregulated.
But breweries, bars and hemp businesses say the drinks are popular and should be regulated in a way that still allows them to be sold instead of banned.
“Our ask is to regulate these products with common sense regulations, just like beer, wine and liquor are,” said Jacob Virgil, president of NoDa Brewing. He says craft breweries are already facing hard times because of consumers’ move away from beer, and seltzers represent a promising alternative.
NoDa Brewing launched a line of THC seltzers last year called Happy Bird, which are marketed as all-natural, alcohol-free drinks with no sugar or calories and that have “just the right amount of full-spectrum THC to lift your spirits.” Seltzer sales are growing and make up 11% of NoDa’s revenue, Virgil said.
Other Charlotte businesses calling on the legislature to regulate hemp instead of banning it include Wooden Robot Brewery, Common Market-Plaza Midwood, Gourmand, Hi-Wire Brewing, Hoppin’ Charlotte, Resident Culture Brewing, Super Abari Game Bar and Tryon Distributing.
The House could vote on the legislation as soon as this week, WUNC reported. The businesses plan to head to Raleigh on Tuesday to make their case to legislators.
Last year, the federal government passed restrictions on intoxicating hemp products, including THC beverages, that are set to take effect in November, although repealing that language has support from the Trump administration. Even if the federal measure is repealed, the products would still be illegal in North Carolina if the state bans them.
In covering the issue since last year, The Ledger has also reported that N.C. hemp growers say they worry about their future if tight restrictions pass and that doctors are noticing more teenagers winding up in the hospital with problems connected to cannabis use, at least in part because of widely available THC products.
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