Marin resident launches beverage brand Goodmellow with THC-infused drinks

There’s a saying, “As goes California, so goes the nation.” And that was certainly the case with the decriminalization of cannabis.

California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis and was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis. But one arena that California has lagged far behind the rest of the nation is in the combination of cannabis and alcohol sales. In 2024, the California Department of Public Health specifically partnered with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to prohibit the sale of any kind of cannabis products at on-sale licensed premises.

Cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin and LSD, and is technically illegal; however, enforcement is not happening at the state level. On Dec. 18, 2025, President Donald Trump directed the relevant federal agencies to expedite the rescheduling process of cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, but that has yet to happen. But when that does happen, we might see a shift in ABC policy regarding cannabis, and at least one Northern California company is positioning itself to take advantage of it.

“We don’t really use formal titles at Hanson, but at this point, I oversee production,” he said.

Goodmellow is a completely separate company founded by Hanson and his high school friend Dylan Rinaldi, who serves as the COO.

“We grew up together and have been friends for over 30 years,” Hanson said. “We started Goodmellow in late 2024 and began selling product in 2025.”

Hanson tells of going to Tales of the Cocktail, an annual alcohol industry event held in New Orleans, two years ago and having a revelation.

“I saw these THC drinks at bars for the first time,” he said.

The Hanson distillery had already been toying with nonalcoholic products that contained no CBD or THC but found that not only did they lack the significant mouthfeel of distilled alcohol, but they lacked something else as well.

“That was the big issue,” Hanson said. “You put them (nonalcoholic products) in a cocktail, and there’s no feeling associated with it.”

It was then that Hanson realized, why not bridge the gap?

“Dylan and I saw a unique opportunity to build a beverage brand that combines great flavor, functional ingredients and controlled THC experiences within the traditional beverage framework,” Hanson said. “Currently, we sell the THC in nine or 10 states. We are launching the functional in the states that we are not selling the THC in.”

Goodmellow makes four canned flavors: Strawberry Hibiscus, White Peach Tea, Meyer Lemon Elderflower and Grapefruit Habanero. Each flavor is available across four different user experiences: Glow, which is their functional-only product, and then three THC products with varying levels of potency (2, 5 and 10 milligrams of THC).

“Each one offers a different kind of social experience depending on what someone is looking for,” Hanson said.

Goodmellow is one of the earliest adopters of multitiered “functional” and THC products, but they certainly are not the only ones. Pabst Blue Ribbon also markets a line of THC beverages completely separate from their alcohol ones.

“It may be three months; it may be five years,” Hanson said. “But within a very reasonable amount of time, every state will be selling these drinks, and you will see them everywhere that you see beer, wine and alcohol. It’s already been proven. The demand is out there.”

And soon enough, the laws might follow the demand.

For more info on Goodmellow or to purchase, go to goodmellow.com.

Recently, we caught up with Hanson to get some more clarification.

Q: What’s one of the biggest challenges with the California cannabis market?

A: In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis with Proposition 215. Then, in 2016, voters passed Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana for adults and created a regulated market for cultivation, manufacturing and retail sales.

One of the biggest challenges for marijuana in California is the size of the illegal market. Because cannabis businesses face high state and local taxes, strict regulations and limited retail licenses in many cities, legal products are often significantly more expensive than those sold outside the regulated system. As a result, a large portion of cannabis sales in California still happens in the illicit market, making it difficult for legal operators to compete and for the state to fully realize the benefits of legalization.

Q: Not all states have the same liquor laws. How does Goodmellow address that?

A: Liquor laws vary significantly from state to state, which creates opportunities for innovation and different business models. Because each state regulates alcohol differently — through control states, franchise laws and varying distribution rules, it often creates openings for new types of products or brands.

For us, that flexibility helps us bring different products to market depending on the regulatory environment. In states where THC beverages are allowed, we can offer our microdosed hemp-derived THC drinks. In others, we focus on functional beverages like Goodmellow Glow, which contain no THC.

In a way, that complexity has pushed us to broaden the portfolio and position Goodmellow as a functional beverage brand, not just a THC beverage.

Q: What inspired you to start Goodmellow in the first place?

A: I was initially very interested in the nonalcoholic spirits category and the broader shift toward people drinking less alcohol while still wanting a social beverage experience. I had also become very interested in functional supplements like ashwagandha and other ingredients that help with relaxation and stress and was curious about creating a new kind of beverage that could help people unwind and feel better.

Around the same time, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids at the federal level, as long as products stayed below the 0.3% delta-9 THC threshold by dry weight.

That created a pathway for federally legal THC products that, in many ways, were not restricted like state-regulated cannabis, even though the active compound is essentially the same. What was particularly interesting to us was the potential to bring these products through the traditional three-tier alcohol distribution system, something that isn’t possible with state-licensed cannabis products.

Q: How would you describe Goodmellow to an interested observer?

A: Goodmellow is a functional beverage that tastes great and is crafted with intention — using ingredients designed to help people feel good. Functional beverages go beyond basic refreshment and include ingredients like adaptogens, botanicals or other supplements that can support mood, relaxation and overall well-being. Some people are looking for something social; others want something functional and calming. By offering both, we’re able to build a brand that fits a wider range of moments in people’s lives.