Vertosa Blog

Science for Product Makers - The Pioneers Shaping PK & PD in the Cannabis Space

Dr. Harold Han - "The Happy Chemist" — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:29:21 GMT

This post is also published as an article on Harold's LinkedIn profile. You can read and leave comments here.

Science for Product Makers - Decoding PK and PD to master the cannabis experience

Dr. Harold Han - "The Happy Chemist" — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:36:05 GMT

This post is also published as an article on Harold's LinkedIn profile. You can read and leave comments here.

Confused with your lab results? Top 7 factors that may need your attention

George Wharam — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:58:02 GMT

This article was written in partnership with Anresco Labs.

2024 highlights: The Year Cannabis Beverages Took Center Stage

Ben Larson — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 21:45:01 GMT

As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on an adage often heard in entrepreneurial circles: “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” While there’s undeniable wisdom in that sentiment, 2024 proved that sometimes you can achieve far more in a single year than you ever imagined.

Science for product makers: The importance of oxidation control in cannabis beverages

Dr. Harold Han - "The Happy Chemist" — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:09:52 GMT

Potency stability remains one of the most important objectives of making cannabis infused beverages. Unlike most cannabinoids, liquor can be stored for decades without losing its alcohol content because ethanol is stable against degradation caused by oxidation. When cannabinoids are converted into a water-compatible ingredient such as nanoemulsion, the enlarged molecular surface area accelerates the oxidation process. This makes oxygen control especially important in this industry. In today’s article, we’ll explore preservation methods and shelf life considerations for cannabis infused beverages.

Science for product makers: Everything you need to know about cans

Dr. Harold Han - "The Happy Chemist" — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 23:50:19 GMT

This post was originally published on August 9, 2024, as an article on Harold's LinkedIn profile. You can read and leave comments here.

Your Guide to Beverage Bliss: The Cannabis Beverage Manufacturing Handbook

Vertosa — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:38:01 GMT

The cannabis beverage market is booming, but creating high-quality, consistent products can be challenging. It can seem daunting, overwhelming, and sometimes downright impossible to get everything “right” in such a nascent industry.

Mainstream Retailers and Distributors: Navigating the New Terrain of THC-Infused Beverages

Ben Larson — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:49:41 GMT

This post originally appeared on Ben's LinkedIn Newsletter, Infused Insights. You can read and leave comments here.

Hemp and Cannabis Beverage Trade Groups: Charting a Unified & Effective Path Forward

Ben Larson — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:37:01 GMT

This post originally appeared on Ben's LinkedIn Newsletter, Infused Insights. You can read and leave comments here.

Cannabis Advocacy Groups: Beverage is a Blessing in Disguise

Ben Larson — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:34:10 GMT

This post originally appeared on Ben's LinkedIn Newsletter, Infused Insights. You can read and leave comments here.

As members of a community united by a common goal of cannabis reform, we continually explore various avenues to advance our cause as the legal landscape continuously shifts. Sometimes those shifts are unexpected and require us to reassess our legalization strategy.

As a continuation of my series on low-dose THC beverages, I want to address a strategy that may initially seem unconventional, if not controversial, but holds tremendous potential for broader legalization and societal acceptance: the mainstreaming of low-dose THC beverages. I’ve heard the criticisms: the activity is undermining the legalization effort, products aren’t safe, or the open framework doesn’t support the social equity efforts. I will address these directly below.

Normalization Through Mainstream Access

The vision of cannabis legalization that many voters supported is far from the reality we observe today. Consumers and operators alike navigate a labyrinth of restrictive zoning, convoluted regulations, and stigmatizing marketing restrictions. By championing low-dose beverages — a familiar and approachable product format — we can significantly shift public perceptions, helping to normalize cannabis use in social settings akin to alcohol consumption. This approach not only bridges the gap between hemp and high-THC cannabis but also sets the stage for more comprehensive reforms.

We have the opportunity to leverage a product form factor that has consistently struggled in the state-licensed cannabis channel, but shows incredible promise in the mainstream adult beverage channels, to create greater access to the plant, normalize THC, and generate tax revenues to share the burden on the cannabis industry.

THC beverages being served alongside their alcoholic counterparts is normalization at its best. Credit: MinnPost photo by Corey Anderson

Further explanation of this is expanded upon in my previous articles, starting withLow Dose Beverages Will Pave the Way for Legalization(April 5, 2024).

Upholding Quality and Safety Standards

TheCannabis Beverage Associationand theHemp Beverage Alliance, which collectively boast memberships largely representative of the low-dose THC beverage category from both sides of the plant, are at the forefront of advocating for rigorous quality and safety standards within our industry and encourage operator-driven regulation among all members and require alignment around certain codes of conduct.

Most low-dose beverages currently on the market, by nature of the manufacturing requirements of the products, are already produced in state-of-the-art, cGMP-certified facilities, ensuring product integrity and consumer safety. Many co-packers, such asSurly Brewing Co.in Minnesota orBeak & Skiff Apple Orchardsin New York, have diversified or migrated from other mainstream markets, like craft beer and other functional beverages.