Emulsion and dosing
We confirm your emulsion supplier, target mg per can, and tolerance before batching, and validate uniformity on a pilot run on the production line.
Hemp THC beverages · Greenville, SC
Hemp-derived THC beverage co-packing in the Southeast
Dosed seltzers, sodas, and mocktails in pre-printed aluminum cans, from first runs of about 2,500 cans to 250,000-can production. Every run is QC-logged and held until the lab COA clears.
Regulatory status · as of September 24, 2026
The federal hemp definition changes on December 11, 2026
The November 2025 appropriations law redefined hemp by total THC and excluded final products with more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container. H.R. 6500, signed September 2, 2026, delayed that cap to December 11, 2026. Only cannabinoids the plant cannot produce naturally lose hemp status on the original November 12 date. Several federal bills would instead regulate THC beverages with a per-serving limit; none has passed.
We are a manufacturer, not your lawyer. Get advice from your own regulatory counsel, and read our guide to the deadline for the options brands are weighing.
What changes for a THC run
A THC beverage is sold on a milligram claim
The active ingredient does not dissolve in water, so consistency depends on the emulsion, the mixing method, and the order of addition. These are the controls we run.
Logged on every run
Pre-op inspection, scale and pH calibration, seam and seal checks, finished-product pH, and dissolved oxygen and CO2, recorded against the run.
Held for the COA
Finished product stays on hold until the third-party lab certificate of analysis clears, typically 3 to 5 days, so your COA and your pallets match.
Lot traceability
Every input is received against a purchase order and tracked by lot, so a batch number on the can traces back to the emulsion and ingredients in it.
Run sizes and formats
From a first run to full production
Runs start around 2,500 cans. A typical client run is about 20,000 cans, and our largest clients run 100,000 to 250,000 cans at a time.
24 cans per case in 4-pack or 6-pack carriers, 104 cases (2,496 cans) per pallet for 12 oz sleek.
- 12 oz sleek
- 12 oz standard
- 8 oz sleek
- 16 oz standard
Before you submit
What moves a THC project fastest
- A process authority letter and a shelf-life study for the formula, or a plan to get them.
- Your emulsion or distillate supplier and a current certificate of analysis.
- Target mg per can, acceptable tolerance, and the states you plan to sell into.
- Can artwork and a printed-can order sized to your run.
Missing some of these is normal for a first run. Tell us where you are on the project form and we will point you to what is next.
Frequently asked
Does Upstate Beverage Consultants co-pack hemp-derived THC beverages?+
Yes. Hemp-derived THC and CBD beverages are a specialty of Upstate Beverage Consultants in Greenville, South Carolina. Most of the brands we can for are hemp THC seltzers, sodas, and mocktails, run in pre-printed aluminum cans with dosing validated on a pilot before production.
What is the minimum run for a THC beverage?+
Runs at Upstate Beverage Consultants start around 2,500 cans. A typical client run is about 20,000 cans, and our largest clients run 100,000 to 250,000 cans at a time. A 20,000-can THC run is routine for us.
What happens to hemp THC beverages on December 11, 2026?+
Under the federal hemp redefinition passed in November 2025 and delayed by H.R. 6500, final hemp products with more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container fall outside the federal definition of hemp on December 11, 2026 unless Congress acts again. Most THC beverages on the market today contain 2 to 10 mg per can. Brands should plan for that date now and get advice from their own regulatory counsel.
Can you help reformulate a THC beverage into a low-dose or THC-free version?+
Yes. Our formulation team works on the same line with functional and non-alcoholic beverages, so a brand can move a flavor to a THC-free functional version or a lower-dose version and keep its can format, flavor, and production partner.
How do you make sure every can has the right dose?+
THC is oil-based, so it is delivered as a water-compatible emulsion. We validate homogeneity on a pilot run, log pH, dissolved oxygen, and CO2 and seam checks on every production run, and hold finished product until the third-party lab certificate of analysis clears, typically 3 to 5 days.
Planning a THC or THC-free run?
Tell us your dose, can format, volume, and timeline. If we are a fit, you book a call with the team.