MariMed today announced the launch of a hemp-derived THC version of its Vibations hydrating drink mix brand in Rhode Island.
The company said the launch represents a capital-efficient opportunity to expand Vibations into the hemp THC beverage category through an established retail channel, without incremental cultivation or retail infrastructure investment. It said it believes hemp-derived THC beverages provide a scalable pathway to incremental revenue and accretive gross margin, while maintaining disciplined capital deployment.
Distributing a hemp-derived version of Vibations also advances the company's "Expand the Brand" strategy, which is focused on broadening distribution of the its core brands.
The hemp-derived THC version of Vibations is infused with 5mg of THC per stick. Flavors available for the Rhode Island launch include Lemon Lime (Sugar Free), Half & Half, Strawberry Lemonade, and Tropical Punch. Distribution will be provided through licensed Rhode Island liquor stores that are authorized to carry hemp THC beverages and products, providing an efficient and scalable retail channel for market entry. There are currently more than 150 licensed and approved liquor stores in the state.
Marimed CEO Jon Levine acknowledged the federal government’s recent legislation that, if implemented later this year, would ban hemp-derived THC products such as the new version of Vibations. But he said his company "believes such proposals conflict with the regulatory framework established in states like Rhode Island, which prioritize public health and consumer safety. We are confident that ultimately a sensible regulatory solution will be established that enables these existing, state-level programs to continue.”
Distribution of Vibations in Rhode Island is supported by Craft Collective Homegrown, the leading hemp beverage distributor in the state, which will manage weekly ordering and delivery. MariMed has also entered a new partnership with Modern Infusions, the hemp THC beverage division of Theory Wellness, to manage sales execution and local marketing initiatives, including distributor management, account development, retail merchandising, and short and long-term sales planning.
The company is also developing plans to expand distribution of Vibations into additional markets during the first half of 2026. Those plans will be contingent on the early performance of the Rhode Island launch and other regulatory considerations and would be implemented using a similarly disciplined and capital-efficient distribution model.
