Cannabis beverages are having a moment in Charlotte. Here’s where to find them.

By Timothy DePeugh

Updated November 7, 2025 8:22 AM

Cannabis beverages — sparkling, citrusy, slightly herbaceous and increasingly easy to find on menus in Charlotte — are quietly changing the way people unwind.

For those not in the know, THC is the chemical compound in cannabis that imparts the high. But beverages that contain THC don’t hit like alcohol, instead causing a sensation that’s more like a slow exhale that lingers just long enough to make the room feel softer, the music warmer and your friends a little funnier.

These aren’t frat-party edibles or medicinal tinctures; they’re the next wave of social drinking — cannabis reimagined as happy hour’s mellow cousin.

Cannabis beverages also almost always come with CBD to boot. CBD, unlike THC, does not produce a high but instead brings calm without the cloud to those who take it. This is why oftentimes people take CBD as a sleep aid or for anxiety relief. Or, for a chill night out.

A close-up shot of a yellow-orange cocktail in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange peel, sitting on a white and gray marbled countertop. The drink is in sharp focus in the foreground, while the background is blurred, showing a bar setting with another cocktail in a coupe glass further down the counter. — The cannabis cocktails at the Bar at Supperland are as upscale as any other on the menu. Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

And it’s not just cannabis seltzers selling briskly around town.

In the same way bartenders learned to coax flavors from bitters and botanicals, cannabis makers are now doing the same with THC and CBD, creating products that bartenders now use to create cocktails. The results are a new kind of drink that bridges the gap between bar culture and cannabis culture — minus the hangover.

All of which is to say that alcohol, that timeless ferment fomenting next day regrets since the dawn of civilization, now has competition.

But just because cannabis beverages don’t hit like alcohol doesn’t mean that you can drink with impunity or that you should drive afterward. Always remember to drink responsibly as you try out these places in Charlotte with cannabis beverage options.

A close-up, eye-level shot of an espresso martini in a coupe glass, resting on a light-colored tabletop. The drink has a creamy, tan-colored foam top and is garnished with three coffee beans arranged in the center. The cocktail is in sharp focus, while the background is blurred, showing menus laid out on the table. — Folia’s Wake & Bake Abuelita — a zero proof espresso martini — is made with Loyal Oils blueberry lemonade. Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

The Bar at Supperland

Location: 1212 The Plaza Charlotte, NC 28205

The Bar at Supperland, located adjacent to the restaurant in Plaza Midwood, offers a top notch, James Beard-honored and Michelin-commended cocktail program that now contains two cannabis cocktail options.

I Like to Party is a “no-waste” fizzy delight with a booze-less, THC-infused-gin from Chicago-based Calmezzi, that is made from remnants of the restaurant’s discarded strawberries. Word Up, made with Amara Planta chartreuse, offers a mellow, sideways take on the classic Last Word cocktail that, in the end, will leave you upright.

A close-up, eye-level shot of a tall, light-orange cocktail on a light wooden table with brass inlays. The drink is in a highball glass and is garnished with a fresh mint sprig, a lemon wedge, and a decorative paper straw. In the background, a purple, tufted booth is visible, and to the left of the glass sit a small candle holder and a white vase with yellow flowers. — The Bar at Supperland’s I Like to Party contains 5 mg THC and 5 mg CBD, along with Calmezzi Original, Amethyst lemon serrano, lime stock, anti-waste strawberry syrup, super carbonated soda water and a mint sprig. Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

Folia

Location: 1440 S Tryon St # 102, Charlotte, NC 28203

Folia, Built on Hospitality group’s very chic, very adult cocktail bar in South End, has four cannabis cocktails currently on the menu, and all four are made with Loyal Oils, a Charlotte-based maker of alternatives to alcohol.

Try the Loyal Oils strawberry lemonade in Colorado Vice, a creamy, tangy, tropical THC-alternative to a boozy milk punch. Or for a real treat, hack the menu by asking for Wake & Bake Abuelita — a zero proof espresso martini — made with Loyal Oils blueberry lemonade.

A close-up, eye-level shot of a creamy white cocktail in a salt-rimmed rocks glass, sitting on a black napkin. To its right is a bottle of “Loyal Oils Loyal Lemonade” strawberry mixer. The items are on a white and gray marbled bar top, with the rest of of the bar blurred in the background. — The best parts about the cannabis cocktails at Folia are the locally sourced THC products from Loyal Oils in Charlotte. Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

Humbug

Location: 2501 The Plaza #1, Charlotte, NC 28205

There are more than just expertly made cocktails at Villa Heights powerhouse Humbug. The bar also offers a collection of THC-infused hard seltzers from Greensboro-based Bodega Sodas.

While flavors such as Grape Drank and Bohitian Dream offer a 10 mg punch of THC per can, the Bubbly Melon Kiwi option is best for those new to cannabis beverages with a more gentle 5 mg THC per can.

A close-up, eye-level shot of five colorful aluminum soda cans lined up on a dark tiled bar. The background is a blurred bar with shelves of bottles. From left to right, the cans are: “Bodega soda Grape Drank,” “Bodega soda Strawberry Dream,” “Bodega soda Rohitan Treat” fruit punch, “Bodega soda Crushin Orange Soda,” and “Bo Soda Bubbly Melon King.” — Humbug’s selection of cannabis seltzers from Greensboro offers options for all, from THC beginners to longtime fans. Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

Resident Culture

Location: 2101 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

Location: The Market on 7th Street, 224 E 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Resident Culture, Charlotte’s all-inclusive brewery whose list of beers is as diverse as the customers who drink them, has its very own line of cannabis beverages: Cümulo.

These might be the best first foray into THC-infused beverages for those curious as to what all the fuss is about because the amount of THC used ranges from 2.5mg in the Tropical Punch flavor for beginners, all the way up to 5 mg Pink Lemonade and 10 mg options in Mango Lime, Tangerine and Mixed Berry for those with more experience.

For seasoned cannabis drinkers, there is even a 30 mg version in Pink Lemonade, which can only be purchased for consumption at home. And that’s all well and good, too, because the first time I drank it, I was convinced spies were in the corner of my living room laughing at me and my absurdly constructed DNA. Seriously.

A joyful, overhead, high-angle shot of three people having a picnic, lying on their backs on vibrant, patterned blankets. Their heads are near the center, surrounding a wooden tray of food. The person on the left is smiling broadly, the person in the middle is laughing, and the person on the right smiles while wearing light green sunglasses. The tray holds bowls of charcuterie, nuts, olives, and pretzels, and is surrounded by colorful cans of beverages and a small bouquet of daisies. — Resident Culture’s Cumulo nonalcoholic drinks are made with THC and sparkling water. Resident Culture

Vinyl

Location: 1440 S Tryon St #105, Charlotte, NC 28203

What better to pair with grilled stuffed ribeye roll-ups at Vinyl, the chill South End gastropub, than a cannabis cocktail.

Head to the “Parental Advisory” section of the menu and try Higher Love, made with CANN Hi Boy blood orange cardamom social tonic and topped with a burning cinnamon stick. Try two of them, in fact. The drink contains a lower amount THC, perfect for beginners, and like the bar itself, which is decorated head-to-toe in vinyl record bric a brac, it’s a total vibe.

A close-up, eye-level shot of a deep-red cocktail in a tall, textured-glass, resting on a black napkin on a dark wooden bar top. The drink is garnished with a large sprig of fresh mint, a black straw, and a smoldering cinnamon stick. The background is a brightly lit but blurred bar. — Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick. I wanna drink a drink with a cinnamon stick. (This caption for Vinyl’s Higher Love THC cocktail was written post-drink.) Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

Zämbies

Location: 3204 North Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28205

Cannabis notoriously begets the munchies, and those munchies almost inevitably lead to pizza. Consider it kismet, then, that Zämbies in NoDa, home of Charlotte’s best slice, offers a selection of canned cannabis beverages from Five Flowers.

Strawberry — sweet and jammy — is the most popular, while the seasonal Pumpkin Donut, with subtle bitter notes, pairs well with a slice of pepperoni pizza. Also on the menu, a singular canned mocktail: a THC-infused watermelon margarita, for those who miss summer.

A close-up, eye-level shot of five colorful cans of THC-infused beverages lined up on a wooden table with a distinctive grain pattern. In the background, a napkin dispenser and a window are blurred. From left to right, the cans are: “Five Flowers Strawberry,” “Five Flowers Rosé Lemonade,” “Five Flowers Lemonade,” “Five Flowers Pumpkin Donut,” and a taller, pink “BLNCD Watermelon Margarita” mocktail. — What better to go with a slice of pizza at Zämbies than a crisp, cold cannabis seltzer? Timothy DePeugh CharlotteFive

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Cannabis beverages are having a moment in Charlotte. Here’s where to find them.."

Timothy DePeugh

The Charlotte Observer

Timothy DePeugh is a Charlotte food writer. He has won two NC Press Association Awards for his restaurant reviews and food features. When he’s not writing, he’s living the corporate life as a number cruncher. Tim loves his cat Goma, loves wine, loves Broadway and movies, and is a color guard fanatic. Find him on Instagram @timtimtokyo.

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