Circle K to Launch Nationwide Hemp-Derived THC Beverage Rollout with Allen Iverson Brand

Sales of THC products have already left licensed pot shops. Circle K, a well-known chain of gas stations and convenience stres, is announcing the most massive cannabis beverage distribution plan in history in the US.

Circle K plans to sell hemp -derived THC beverages. The product rollout is expected to reach as many as 3,000 stores in the United States. The rollout will begin in 2025 and reach full capacity in 2026. These beverages are not marijuana-based, but hemp-based.

This decision is the biggest and boldest move in retail history. It means that THC products will be available in regular, mainstream stores.

Circle K’s Expansion Plan and Allen Iverson’s THC Beverages

Start: End of 2025
Circle K will launch sales in partnership with Horticulture Co. The launch product will be cannabis beverages bearing the name of Allen Iverson, former NBA star.

Starting States: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.
Potency: Each can of Iverson’s drink is said to contain 10 milligrams of THC

Expansion: 2026 and Beyond
By 2026, the drinks will be available in the entire Circle K chain in the US . This applies to states where laws permit such sales. The goal is 3,000 stores nationwide.

Horticulture Co. CEO Saf Sadiq puts it bluntly: “This is the closest the industry has ever seen to a nationwide rollout. It’s also the largest scale by a retail chain.”

This agreement will make Iverson’s brand one of the most accessible on the market. It will also gain consumer awareness and trust.

‘Wake Up for the Cannabis Industry’: What Does Circle K’s Cannabis Beverage Sale Mean for the Market?

Circle K’s owner, Alimentation Couche Tard, is a giant. It has nearly 10,000 stores in North America. The potential is enormous.

Many experts see this as the next stage in the evolution of the cannabis industry. THC products will find their way alongside chips and sodas. They will be available like any other food product.

Legitimizing the cannabis sector

Adoption by a major chain lends significant credibility to the cannabis sector . Cannabis lawyer Steve Schain argues that: “The market is accepting cannabis-derived intoxicants as warmly as naturally occurring delta-9 THC.”

This is a clear signal to the traditional marijuana industry, controlled by dispensaries.

It’s Not Just Circle K: Target and Total Wine Already Selling Hemp-Infused THC Drinks Circle K isn’t alone. Other major retailers are also entering this market:

Target: Started selling cannabis-infused THC drinks in 10 stores in Minnesota.
Total Wine & Spirits: A large alcohol chain that has also introduced cannabis beverages to its offerings.
Entrepreneur Josh Kesselman (founder of RAW Rolling Papers) notes: “The cannabis community is resourceful. Circle K saw an opportunity to give people what they want.”

Kesselman adds that the trend is toward cannabis beverages, not alcohol.

Why are THC drinks legal in stores?

This major move is made possible by the 2018 Farm Bill. This federal law legalized the production of hemp. This led to an unexpected increase in the number of intoxicating THC products derived from hemp. These products can even be sold in states where marijuana is illegal!

Controversy over legal loophole

THC-infused cannabis beverages are currently outside the regulated marijuana channel. That’s why Circle K can sell them without the concerns that arose when it attempted to open dispensaries in Florida in 2022.

Politicians and regulators are not satisfied.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky wants to close a legal loophole in the Farm Bill. He wants to re-criminalize products like Iverson’s drinks.
However, attempts to tighten the law are blocked (e.g. by Senator Rand Paul).

State Requirements: Texas Regulation Instead of Ban

In Texas, the largest single-market cannabis market, Governor Greg Abbott took a different approach. Instead of a ban, he imposed regulations. These include, among other things, a minimum purchasing age requirement.

Despite legal uncertainty, cannabis beverages with THC remain available in the US.

“Until the Farm Bill changes, if at all, expect to see more large chains opening their shelves to hemp products,” predicts Josh Kesselman.

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(Featured image by pariwat pannium via Unsplash)

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