Target Expands Hemp THC Beverage Sales to 300+ Stores Across Three States

By CBDWorldNews Editorial Staff | May 19, 2026

Target is rolling hemp-derived THC beverages into more than 300 stores across Texas, Florida, and Illinois, marking the largest expansion of cannabis-adjacent products by a major U.S. retailer. The move follows a pilot program in Minnesota that began in late 2024 and grew to all 72 of the chain’s locations in that state. Customers must be 21 or older to purchase.

The expansion puts THC drinks on shelves in three of the country’s most populous states just six months before a federal ban is scheduled to strip most hemp-derived cannabinoid products from legal commerce.

From Minnesota Pilot to National Footprint

Target first tested hemp THC drinks at 10 Minnesota stores in October 2024, operating under the state’s lower-potency hemp edible licensing framework. The initial lineup was limited to products containing 5mg of THC per serving.

By early 2025, Target had obtained licenses for all 72 of its Minnesota stores and expanded its product selection to include 10mg options. The company characterized the broader rollout as a continued test, but the numbers tell a different story. Moving from 10 stores to 72 to 300-plus in under 18 months is not a test. It is a category launch.

“Target has expanded into 10mg varieties over the winter, reflecting consumer demand for products with a more noticeable effect.” — BevNET reporting on the expansion

The new stores cover all Target locations in Florida and Texas. In Illinois, the rollout extends to every store in municipalities that permit intoxicating hemp product sales. Chicago restricts the category within city limits, so not all Illinois locations will carry the products.

The Brand Lineup

Target is stocking a curated selection of established hemp beverage brands. The confirmed roster includes:

• Cann — Social tonics in flavors like blood orange cardamom, positioned as a low-dose alcohol alternative
• Wynk — Seltzer-style THC drinks from the team behind Wink, offering both 5mg and 10mg options
• Trail Magic — Minnesota-based brand that was part of the original pilot
• Stigma — Hemp-infused sparkling beverages focused on flavor variety
• Gigli — Italian-inspired THC seltzers
• Daizy’s — Fruit-forward THC beverages targeting the casual consumer

Products will appear in endcap displays within participating stores, giving them prominent placement rather than relegating them to a back-shelf afterthought. Both 5mg and 10mg dosage options will be available.

For consumers unfamiliar with the category, reputable sources like CBDProducts.com offer breakdowns of cannabinoid types, dosing guidelines, and product comparisons that can help first-time buyers navigate the options.

Market Timing and the Federal Question

The hemp-derived THC beverage market has grown to an estimated $1.1 billion, with the broader cannabis beverage sector projected to reach $7.6 billion globally by 2035. Brands report double-digit percentage growth year over year.

But the clock is ticking. The Agriculture Appropriations Act for FY2026 redefined hemp to include a total THC standard of 0.3% on a dry weight basis and capped finished products at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. That cap takes effect November 12, 2026. A typical 5mg THC seltzer exceeds the new limit by more than tenfold.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable estimates the new rules will render approximately 95% of existing hemp-derived cannabinoid products unlawful. The hemp industry, valued at roughly $28 billion, faces an existential deadline.

High Times posed the question directly in a May headline: does Target know something the rest of the industry does not? The retailer’s willingness to invest in endcap displays and multi-state licensing for a product category with a six-month legal runway has fueled speculation.

Several possibilities exist. Target may be betting that Congress will delay or amend the ban before November. The Hemp Planting Predictability Act, a bipartisan bill, would push the effective date to 2028. Alternatively, Target may view the current window as a profitable short-term play, with plans to pull products if the ban holds. Or the company may have received informal signals from regulators that enforcement will not be immediate.

Target has not commented beyond calling the expansion a test in a “limited number” of stores.

Quality and Compliance Considerations

The entry of a Fortune 50 retailer into the hemp THC space carries implications for product quality standards. Target’s vendor requirements typically include third-party lab testing, batch consistency documentation, and packaging compliance reviews.

For an industry plagued by inconsistent labeling and contamination concerns, that level of retail gatekeeping functions as a de facto quality filter. Brands that meet Target’s standards are likely the same ones that provide full certificates of analysis (COAs) and transparent sourcing — the kind of documentation tracked by resources like SafeCBD.com.

The pet CBD segment, served by retailers like CBDPet.com, is watching this expansion for signals about mainstream retail appetite for hemp-derived products more broadly. If THC beverages perform well in Target stores, it could open conversations about shelf space for other compliant hemp categories.

What This Means for the Industry

Target’s expansion sends two signals to the market.

First, mainstream retail demand for hemp THC beverages is real and growing. The jump from a 10-store pilot to 300-plus locations across three major states validates the category for other large retailers evaluating their own entry strategies. Walmart, Kroger, and Costco are all monitoring this space.

Second, the tension between market momentum and regulatory uncertainty has never been sharper. Companies are investing millions in production capacity, distribution networks, and retail partnerships for products that may become federally illegal in less than six months. That is either a calculated risk or a sign that insiders expect the November deadline to move.

For hemp beverage brands, the immediate priority is clear: get on shelves, build consumer awareness, and generate the sales data that makes the case for regulatory accommodation. Every unit sold at Target is a data point in the argument that adult consumers want these products and will buy them through legitimate retail channels.

For the broader hemp and CBD industry, the next six months will be defined by a single question: will the federal government follow through on the ban, or will the market’s momentum force a policy course correction?

The answer will reshape the industry for years to come.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.