New THC beverage offers consumers ‘fun but tangible benefits from medical marijuana’

( WHNT ) — A new THC beverage will soon be available across Alabama and neighboring states.

Sunbev, an up-and-coming THC beverage company, was formed in 2024. The company is new to the market but not new to the drink and distribution world.

The company was started in Birmingham by two childhood best friends. CEO Harris Stewart, former CEO of Trim Tab, and Hunter Lake, CEO of Avondale Brewing, have been friends since elementary school.

Stewart explained Sunbev started as two old school friends who reconnected later in life. They applied their varied experiences in the craft beer world to the creation of their product. Sunbird is the flagship drink of Sunbev.

Both Stewart and Lake set out to create this new product as a non-alcoholic drink alternative for people who want a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Stewart explained in an interview with News 19 that he felt “people shouldn’t have to choose between fun and health.”

📲 Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.
📧 Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox.

Sunbird is a light THC-infused seltzer with a blend of 3mg of Delta 9 and 3mg of CBG. Like THC, CBG is derived from Hemp and is used to lower cholesterol and reduce swelling.

With the low dosage of THC, the drink is compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill removed Hemp from the definition of marijuana, which includes low-THC derivatives of cannabis, such as CBD products, in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Medicinal weed is partnered with cultivation facilities for medicinal purposes. In December 2023 , a judge temporarily blocked Alabama from issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries amid an ongoing legal battle over how the state selected the winning companies.

Stewart said this dispensary subject is not an issue for Sunbev because they are not a cultivator. He said the act has caused delays, but they are not affected. Once the green light is given for the medical side of marijuana, the company plans to partner with statewide cultivation facilities.

According to Stewart, Sunbird is more geared towards people who want the medicinal side of THC. This includes people who need help with pain relief, inflammation, sleep problems, hunger problems — such as chemo side effects — and so much more.

The company is meant to offer consumers fun but tangible benefits from medical marijuana. Stewart told News 19 about the stigma around the idea of medical marijuana and what it is used for.

He and Lake want to break that.

The drink is meant to offer more medicinal properties without it being addictive, like alcohol or nicotine. Stewart made sure to clarify that THC is not addictive, but people can develop a tolerance to it.

Stewart said the THC beverage field is the “dawn of a new era of [drink] options for people.” Demographic studies show the rise of young adults and college-aged individuals drinking less and the declining demand for alcoholic products.

Cleveland Clinic posted a study in November 2023 about how Gen-Z is drinking significantly less alcohol than previous generations.

“Younger adults are drinking less alcohol — and it has been moving in that direction for two decades,” said addiction psychiatrist Akhil Anand, MD. Anand also describes how the decrease in alcohol consumption coincides with the uptick in cannabis use.

Stewart says people are looking for ways to have fun while promoting health.

“People want to have a socially acceptable drink that promotes a happier and healthier lifestyle. They want all the fun without the less desirable outcomes that come from alcohol.”

Sunbev says the drink is all-natural and gluten-free with zero carbs, sugar and calories.

Starting this week, Sunbird started its distribution with Alabev across central Alabama. By the end of the summer, the drink should be available across the state. Stewart added that by the end of the year, Sunbird will tentatively be available in Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.