Welcome Note

Welcome Back Gardeners to the 116th edition of Herbal Profiles!

Happy Friday yall!

We are back again this week and with some potentially some good news. Read on to learn more about that. I have also put out my annual holiday gift guide for 2025 earlier this week. This is simultaneously my least favorite thing to write about and one of my favorites. It’s my favorite because inevitably I put out some products and people in my life have never heard about them (even if I post about them multiple times throughout the year). It’s my least favorite because I have to leave out sooooo many great brands, great products, and likely some of my friends in the space. So know these choices, were pretty painstaking and I still love you all!

If you’re here and you enjoy this newsletter please do me a favor hop over to Youtube or Spotify and subscribe. It’s free, you won’t get anything extra in your inbox besides this weekly email, and it helps me grow. I would love to hit 1,000 subscribers on my Youtube channel and 200 subscribers on Spotify before the end of 2025. I would really appreciate the support, even if you don’t use Youtube!

Let’s get into it.

-Lars

The subreddit I moderate with Chris Fontes has over 1,800 subscribers! And my other subreddit for the broader CPG industry is also growing, hitting over 425 subscribers. I would love to have you join us on either or both subreddits!

The Free Spirits Podcast with David Gonzalez and myself just dropped an emergency podcast with Chris Lackner on Wednesday.

You can find us on Youtube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!

The latest episode of the Podcast dropped this week with Peter Olander, founder of Happie! If you haven’t listened yet, be sure to check it out and subscribe to the podcast to never miss another!

In case you missed last week’s episode with Chris Lackner, check it out.

Any comments or questions? Leave comment on this post or shoot me an email. Would love to hear from you!

News Roundup

• How High-Quality Cannabis Becomes a Lifeline in a Squeezed Market - Rolling Stone highlights how some cannabis operators are turning to premium products to survive declining margins and oversupply. The article details strategies for differentiation amid market contraction.

• We Asked People In The Cannabis Industry To Tell Us The Dark Secrets Of The Business - BuzzFeed shares anonymous confessions from cannabis workers about industry instability, compliance issues, and challenging work conditions. Submissions come from cultivation, retail, and corporate roles.

• The Hemp Ban, Project 2025, and the Heritage Foundation’s Cannabis Crackdown - High Times reports on the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 proposal, which includes rolling back hemp legalization and reclassifying cannabinoids. The report could influence future cannabis policy under a new administration.

• Will THC-infused beverages remain legal in Ohio? That’s unclear - Ohio officials are reviewing the legality of hemp-derived THC drinks following adult-use cannabis legalization. Current laws create uncertainty around how these products will be regulated or restricted.

• What Illinois can learn from Minnesota’s hemp THC laws - Crain’s Chicago Business compares Illinois’ cannabis regulations to Minnesota’s hemp beverage model. The article highlights Minnesota’s licensing structure, age gating, and retail flexibility.

• Pharos Premium Infused Beverages Sweeps Two National Hemp THC Beverage Competitions for Their Full Lineup of Flavors - Pharos Beverages won first place at both the Hemp Beverage Awards and the National Cannabis Beverage Cup. The brand received honors for taste, formulation, and product design.

• Massachusetts approves cannabis cafes for onsite consumption - Massachusetts cannabis regulators have approved licenses for social consumption lounges. The move allows cafes to serve cannabis onsite, similar to alcohol establishments.

• New federal hemp law creates uncertainty for NY cannabis industry - New federal proposals to ban or tightly regulate hemp products are raising concerns among New York cannabis businesses. Stakeholders worry about the impact on both THC and CBD supply chains.

• 24% cannabis tax in Michigan will take effect after judge rejects injunction - Michigan’s new 24% tax on cannabis-infused beverages will go into effect after a judge dismissed a legal challenge. Opponents argued the tax unfairly targeted low-dose THC drinks.

• Mamba Brand CEO claims FDA & DEA lack funding and law enforcement capacity to enforce new hemp ban - The CEO of Mamba Brands stated that federal agencies do not currently have the resources to enforce a national hemp product ban. The statement comes in response to recent draft legislation.

• Study: Medical Cannabis Program Reduces Opioid Use - A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients in state medical cannabis programs reduced opioid prescriptions by an average of 13%. Researchers analyzed claims data from more than 800,000 patients.

• Hemp Products Would Be Federally Regulated Instead Banned Under New Senate Bill - A new Senate bill proposes regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products under federal guidelines rather than banning them outright. The legislation aims to establish labeling, testing, and age-restriction standards.

📰 Got news? Submit it here! 📰

Any other questions or inquiries you can respond to this email or DM me on Twitter 

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New Federal Hemp Bill Offers Regulatory Framework Instead of Ban

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, offering a potential alternative to the sweeping hemp ban set to take effect in November 2026. The Hemp Beverage Alliance has voiced strong support for the legislation.

Key Highlights:

• Replaces the ban with FDA regulation and safety standards

• Sets federal THC limits (5mg per serving, 50mg per container for most products; 10mg per container for beverages) - but only in states without existing limits

• Preserves state rights - states can maintain stricter OR more permissive limits than federal defaults

• Requires product testing, proper labeling, and age restrictions (21+)

• Bans synthetic cannabinoids and child-appealing packaging

• Creates grant programs for underage prevention and impaired driving research

For a much more detailed breakdown of what this bill actually says (and doesn't say), including the political realities and path forward, read Adam Terry's excellent analysis. Adam, as always, does an amazing job explaining why this bill deserves serious consideration, even if it faces long odds in Congress.

The hemp industry now has a vehicle to rally around, but it will take massive grassroots effort to make it reality.

Best THC Drinks of 2025: Holiday Gift Guide

I spent the year trying and drinking my way through this industry. After extensive testing and market analysis, these are the brands consistently delivering on taste, effects, and my top PERSONAL picks for 2025

The Winners:

• Cann - An OG and still market leader.

• Fable - High Spirits Awards winners using real botanicals and ingredients.

• Cantrip - Another OG and great variety of doses.

• Wims - One of the best portable and versatile options.

• Crescent Canna - Value leader with 4,000+ five-star reviews & the #1 brand mentioned for the high dose folks.

• Willie's Remedy - Spirits bottle and great premium taste and packaging.

• Hippie Water - Flavor champion with crisp, refreshing profiles that pair well with food.

The brands that nailed consistent results while delivering on flavor are seeing the strongest repeat purchase rates.

Full brand breakdown with pricing analysis, consumer feedback, and exclusive discount codes →

Exclusive Coupons - THC Drinks, Health, Wellness, and more

If you’re restocking your THC drinks, here’s a quick reminder, I’ve got verified discounts for a lot more than just infused beverages. The list includes some of my favorite brands across wellness and lifestyle: Ten Thousand for training gear, Ursa Major for skincare, Laundry Sauce for elevated essentials, and of course, the best THC drinks like Cann, Willie’s Remedy, and oHHo. I keep it updated monthly so you always have an easy place to save.