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This week 📢I talk🎙️with Pete Olander Founder at Drink Happie, and we discuss the differences in Delta 8-10, the timing of why Cannibis was changed from Sechedule 1 to 3 Classification by Trump so research can be done and the odd timing of the FM 4121 Banning Cannibis in various formats in the goverment opening last November! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁

THC drinks, CBD vs Delta-9, hemp regulation, functional mushroom beverages & cannabis laws explained 🍄🍒 Inside the $1B hemp beverage boom!

Watch Here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nbPK6S-S7II

🔥 Engaging Summary

In this episode of Thirsty Thursdays, Jessie Ott sits down with Pete Olander, founder of Drink Happy, to break down the fast-growing world of THC beverages, CBD drinks, hemp regulation, and functional mushroom wellness.

From Delta-9 vs Delta-8 confusion to Schedule 3 cannabis shifts and the future of hemp drinks in grocery and liquor stores — this is the real talk the beverage industry needs. 🍹🌿

They also taste test THC microdose drinks and mushroom-infused beverages (Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi) and discuss why low-dose THC could disrupt alcohol.

🚀 Key Takeaways

✅ Delta-9 is naturally occurring — Delta-8 & Delta-10 are synthetic
✅ THC beverages are tested multiple times before reaching consumers
✅ Hemp drinks are a billion-dollar category in 2025
✅ Functional mushrooms are exploding in wellness retail
✅ Schedule 3 cannabis could unlock more medical research
✅ Beverage regulation may follow the alcohol model
✅ Microdose THC = controlled experience vs dispensary high-dose products
✅ AI & real-time sales data are helping emerging beverage brands scale

This episode blends entrepreneurship, wellness, beverage innovation, and policy insight into one powerful conversation.

We cover:
• Hemp beverage compliance & testing standards
• Cannabis beverage distribution models
• Functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane & Reishi
• Real-time Amazon beverage sales data
• The billion-dollar hemp drink market

If you’re in food & beverage, CPG, wellness, cannabis retail, or alcohol distribution — this conversation is essential. 🚀

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This week 📢I talk🎙️with Rob Minucci CEO & Co-Founder at TalkHouse Encore and we discuss how he has used his experience in operations to build out a CRM and win Accounts and Distributors! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁

How do RTD brands actually scale? 🍺 Rob Minucci, CEO of TalkHouse Encore, breaks down data, operations, CRM, distributors & real-world sales strategy for CPG growth. @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST

“Everything I’ve built is based around systems, processes, and procedures that are repeatable—with as little human intervention as possible.” Rob Minucci

Watch Here! https://youtu.be/AeZl7vXfigo

Most RTD brands chase hype.
TalkHouse Encore built systems.

In this episode, Jessie Ott sits down with Rob Minucci, CEO & Co-Founder of TalkHouse Encore, to break down how operations, data, and distributor trust drive real growth in CPG and beverage.

🔥 Key Takeaways:
• Why beer distributors outperform spirits distributors for RTDs
• How CRM + real-time data create sales accountability
• Building velocity before chasing expansion
• Why on-premise still matters (40% of sales!)
• How systems beat guesswork every time
• Using tastings + analytics to drive reorders

This is a masterclass in execution over noise.

How Rob’s Team Actually Differentiates (and Why It Works)

Most RTD brands compete on flavors, packaging, or hype.
Rob and the TalkHouse Encore team compete on execution.

That difference shows up in a few very specific ways.

They build systems before scale
While many brands rush distribution, Rob’s team focused early on operational processes that remove friction. Sales, inventory, distributor activity, and account follow-ups are tracked in real time. Less guessing. More control.

They designed a CRM for beverage reality
Instead of forcing reps to live in bloated software, they built a CRM that works the way beverage teams actually work:

• Simple inputs
• Shelf photos
• Account scoring
• Inventory flags
• Route efficiency

It’s not “data for reporting.”
It’s data that drives action in the field.

They treat distributors like partners, not order takers
Rob’s team doesn’t just hand off the brand and hope for the best. They create clarity for distributors by:

• Showing exactly where velocity is working
• Identifying underperforming accounts early
• Making it easier for reps to win

That builds trust — and trust gets priority.

They use focus as a competitive advantage
Instead of chasing national presence, they went deep in hard markets. Fewer states. Better execution. Higher velocity.

They win on-premise to pull through off-premise
With roughly 40% of sales on-premise, TalkHouse uses bars and restaurants as marketing engines. Sampling, education, and activation create demand that shows up later in retail

They remove ego from pricing and product decisions
Pricing wasn’t set to “fit the shelf.” It was set to reflect quality, margin, and sustainability. The mixed vod

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This week 📢I talk🎙️with Jeanne M. Sullivan and we discuss the THC/CBD potential ban in 2026! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁

👀📹 Watch here: 👉👉 [https://youtu.be/1MSPWwJeCwA]🚀✨🍹

What’s really going on with the hemp beverage ban? 💥 Investor Jeanne Sullivan breaks it all down—laws, money, loopholes, and the path forward. 🚫🌿 @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST

🧠 Summary and Takeaways:

What started with a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill could end with a billion-dollar industry being banned in 2026. Jeanne Sullivan, veteran investor and cannabis industry expert, walks us through:

🌿 The origin of legal hemp beverages
🧃 The explosion of CBD/THC drinks in retail
🚫 The proposed 2026 ban slipped into HR 4121
💰 The economic impact on Total Wine, BevMo, and beyond
🧠 Why regulators don’t understand the category
📉 The alcohol industry’s evolving stance
🇪🇺 Why Europe is welcoming cannabis while the U.S. restricts it
💥 The consumer backlash that could turn the tide

🎯 CTA: Watch, share, and speak out. Contact your representative and help save the hemp beverage category before it disappears.

I downloaded H.R. 4141 and had Chat GPT summarize it and here's the output told me:

"This bill does not explicitly ban CBD or THC drinks — but it gives FDA the power to effectively eliminate hemp-derived THC beverages unless strict limits, age gates, and retail controls are adopted."

Well, who's in charge of that? How do we make that happen? We need to be very vocal about this bill!!

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