From Flights to Festivals, Hemp THC Drinks Are a Legal, Easy Way for Travelers to Unwind
A familiar text from United Airlines pinged my phone: my flight back home from Phoenix had a new departure time. (Later, naturally, though “new departure time” has less baggage than “delayed” does.) I cracked open another Onward THC drink at my Airbnb and settled into a pool chair under the Arizona winter sun.
It’s never been easier to do the same almost anywhere in the country. The 2018 Farm Bill opened the door for hemp-derived THC products and sparked a wave of new drink brands. Early offerings were questionable. Few tested their products, let alone published certificates of analysis (COAs) to confirm potency and purity. That doesn’t even get into if there were any pesticides used in the actual grow. Consumers couldn’t be sure what they were drinking.
Today, major cannabis brands and upstarts alike have reliable hemp-derived THC drinks that go through the same rigorous care and testing as the cannabis sold in dispensaries. The difference? You can buy them at the same stores you pick up your wine and hard seltzers. DoorDash delivers THC drinks straight to your door in some markets, and they’re sold in major retailers like Total Wine. Even Edible Arrangements has a line of hemp-derived THC drinks.
Skip to the top THC drinks for travelersThere’s a lot to unpack about whether this is fair to the heavily regulated and state-restricted cannabis industries in the 24 states with legal recreational markets. Those products are restricted to dispensary sales and can’t cross state lines. Hemp, though technically the same plant species, gets a pass. The industry is still figuring that part out. For consumers now, the thing to know is that these so-called intoxicating hemp drinks can be purchased about as easily as buying a beer.
“The drinks are really approachable,” Jasmine Marin tells me over a call. Marin is the creative director at Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company — and also the daughter of Richard Anthony Marin, better known as the comedian, actor, and activist Cheech. “The low milligrams are beginner friendly. If I were to start anywhere I would start with a drink, because it’s a familiar delivery mechanism.”
Jasmine Marin. Photo: Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company
That familiarity has made the drinks an easy fit for travel plans. They slide naturally into social rituals once reserved for coffee, cocktails, and beer. Maybe it’s killing time before a flight, or relaxing in your hotel after a long day in the air or on the road. The cans are rarely loud about the THC content, though often have designs that resemble a trendy soda brand on hyperdrive rather than a THC product.
People who plan trips around festivals and events will likely start to see these drinks more and more. Crescent 9 THC Seltzer was an official beverage sponsor of Tennessee’s Pilgrimage Music Festival in 2024, while WYNK seltzers were the first cannabis drink partner at Chicago’s Riot Fest the same year. Nowadays had a presence at F1 Miami and Minnesota Yacht Club Festival in 2025. A THC tent beside the beer garden is no longer a stretch of the imagination.
Photo: Nowadays
For me, the appeal is simple. I like that I don’t have to trek to a dispensary to find them. The effects onset in 15 to 30 minutes, with predictable doses ranging from about 3 to 10 milligrams. That makes it easy to modulate the buzz, stacking gently over time — and unlike alcohol, there’s no hangover to deal with later.
“THC beverages are a game changer for travelers wanting a seamless, convenient way to unwind while enjoying their trip,” says Justin Tidwell, CEO and co-founder of Nowadays. “Unlike other hemp products, THC drinks require no additional equipment, are smoke-free, and are often more socially acceptable in shared spaces like hotels and concerts.”
Cheech & Chong High & Dry can be delivered via DoorDash to hotel rooms or picked up in Total Wine, grocery stores, and Circle K. Nowadays is available through those same channels, and is also directly connected to travelers with placements in hotel minibars like at Palm Tree Club Miami.
The numbers suggest more than a passing trend. The analytics and research firm Euromonitor International estimated the hemp-derived THC beverages industry to be worth $239 million in 2023. It projects that by 2028, that will increase 1,615 percent to $4.1 billion. Part of that will come from wellness travelers, people hitting the road for festivals and events, and anyone who is looking for an alternative to alcohol as a social way to relax. (As well as anyone who has used the term “California sober.”)
Photo: Woodstock
The drinks also align with the booming functional-beverage trend. Beyond THC, some brands add adaptogens or nootropics for targeted effects. Woodstock’s lineup, for example, blends THC with minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN, plus L-theanine (the amino acid in green tea that promotes calmness) and mushrooms such as lion’s mane, reishi, and cordyceps for mood-based benefits. Upward, a sister brand of Onward, has cans with 100 milligrams of caffeine as well.
Still, that hemp-derived THC drink future isn’t guaranteed. The 2018 Farm Bill is up for review, and some lawmakers want to close what they see as a hemp loophole. Several states already ban hemp-THC drinks outright — including Colorado, California, and Missouri, which all have recreational cannabis. Other states, like Arkansas, cap each container at a single milligram of THC.
That technically means you can purchase a drink at a grocery store in one state and be afoul of the law on a road trip to one state over. The TSA doesn’t search for drugs, and states on its website that products that adhere to the 2018 Farm Bill are fine to fly with. But if they spot something during a screening that conflicts with local law, they “refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.”
And despite the hype, hemp-derived THC drinks are simply less familiar to people who may be interested. “Many consumers in the US don’t understand that these drinks are legal in their state and available outside of dispensaries,” Tidwell says. “Education is a big part of breaking through.” Though what’s available at a Total Wine in Florida might not be on shelves in Texas, and rules could shift again by the time you board your next flight.
For now, the drinks remain pretty widely accessible. Nowadays alone is sold in more than 10,000 retail locations and ships to over 40 states. “Stories from customers packing Nowadays for friend trips and outdoor adventures show strong opportunity for a future where THC drinks are as common as alcohol in travel settings,” Tidwell adds.
It’s not too hard to imagine a future where hemp-derived THC drinks are available at some airport bars.
“That would be a lot chiller than alcohol,” Marin says with a laugh. “I don’t know if you’ve been next to a drunk guy on the airplane. It’s pretty stressful. But if you’ve ever been next to a really high person on the plane, they’re just laughing. They might need some extra water and more snacks.”
Photo: Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company
As with any THC product, start low and go slow. Full effects can take up to an hour, and these drinks are low-dosed for easy and spaced-out sessions.
The best hemp-derived THC drinks for travelersOnward and Upward
Photo: Onward
Where it’s available: Total Wine, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, and Shores Fine Wine & Spirits in Florida (store locator). Ships to 35-plus states.
The drinks that started it all for me. Onward leans into cocktail-inspired flavors at 3 milligrams (Peach Bellini, Italian Spritz), 5 milligrams (Blueberry Mojito, Sea Salt Margarita), and 10 milligrams (Passion Fruit Martini) of THC. The spritz and margarita are personal favorites. Effects hit 10-15 minutes after drinking, and the drinks are made with natural juices and no high-fructose corn syrup. A new sister line called Upward combines 5 or 10 milligrams of THC with 100 milligrams of caffeine in flavors like Peach Nectarine, Strawberry Tea, Lemonade, and Pink Lemonade. Both are part of the cannabis company Trulieve, and the drinks are third-party lab tested.
Nowadays
Photo: Nowadays
Where it’s available: More than 10,000 retail locations in 30-plus states (store locator). Presence in select hotels and at events. Ships to 40-plus states.
I can pick a few favorite flavors out of the lines from other THC drink brands. With Nowadays, there’s no bad or even mediocre option. Tropical, Berry, Citrus, Spicy Lime, and the limited-run Lemonade all taste better than even the best seltzer of any kind in my opinion. The cans are obviously convenient for travel, but the company started with bottles designed to be used similar to how you would a shot of liquor mixed into a cocktail. Then there’s the 2-ounce shot: 5 or 10 milligram doses in a pocket-sized bottle that’s perfect for on-the-go.
Cheech & Chong’s High & Dry and High Teas
Photo: Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company
Where it’s available: Circle K, Total Wine, ABC Fine Wine, and more retail locations in 25-plus states (store locator). Ships to 40-plus states.
High & Dry is exactly what you’d expect from Cheech & Chong: playful, approachable, and well-crafted. The lineup includes cocktail-inspired 5-milligram seltzers like Magic Mule, Raspberry Highball, and Citrus Sunrise, alongside fruity options such as Wondermelon and Mango Fizz. My favorites are the 10-milligram “High Teas” — Tommy Palmer and Cheech’s Peaches — which are like a better tasting AriZona Iced Tea with a good dose of THC. The iconic cannabis culture and advocacy duo could have slapped their name on anything and found a customer base. These quick-hitting drinks show more genuine product care than that.
Woodstock
Photo: Woodstock
Where it’s available: Stores in Illinois, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Kansas, and Missouri (store locator). Ships to 30-plus states.
Announced ahead of the 56th anniversary of the legendary 1969 Woodstock, the official Woodstock festival brand launched a line of cannabis-infused seltzers that channel the same peace and love spirit of the iconic event. Each low-dose can blends THC with minor cannabinoids and functional mushrooms for tailored effects. Citrus Spritz (“Laugh”) and Yuzu Ginger (“Chill”) have just 2.5 milligrams of THC as well as the cannabinoids CBC, CBG, and CBD, along with varying combinations of L-theanine, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and reishi. The 5 milligram THC Raspberry Lychee (“Solace”) and Dark Berries (“Dream”) use different combinations of the same functional mushrooms and have higher amounts of CBD as well as CBG and CBN (a cannabinoid known for sleepy effects). The lighter options are the ultimate sessionable THC drink, and have a taste that’s highly amenable to drinking a few in a single sitting. 
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