Why We Chose CBG Over THC (And Why That Matters Now More Than Ever)

Written by Marc Narrie, founder of Buddha Beans Coffee Co. and specialty coffee roaster since 2019. Buddha Beans has been infusing coffee with CBG since launch, making it one of the first CBG coffee brands in the US.

The THC beverage boom has a problem

Cannabis-infused beverages are the fastest growing product format in the cannabis industry. Growth rates of 30-40% per year in mature markets. Major distributors like Breakthru Beverage Group started carrying hemp-derived THC drinks in 2026. Coca-Cola and Constellation Brands have made strategic investments. The category is real.

And it just got hit with a regulation that could wipe out most of the products on the market.

The new federal THC cap

In November 2025, US lawmakers included a provision in a federal funding bill that caps final hemp-derived cannabinoid products, beverages included, at 0.4mg combined total THC per container. Most THC seltzers and drinks currently on the market contain 5-10mg per can. The provision also excludes cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant from the hemp definition. Its effective date is November 12, 2026, one year after signing.

This doesn't come out of nowhere. Hemp-derived THC beverages operated in a regulatory gray area after the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Brands figured out that they could extract THC from that hemp and concentrate it into drinks that get you high, technically legal under the letter of that law. Congress finally caught up.

Why we chose 0% THC

Every Buddha Beans product uses broad-spectrum hemp extract with 0% THC (none detected in third-party lab tests).

We keep THC out because it doesn't belong in coffee.

Coffee is a morning drink. People drink it to start their day, get focused, and go to work. Adding a compound that impairs cognitive function, even mildly, defeats the purpose. Nobody wants to show up to a 9am meeting slightly high from their breakfast.

CBG is different. It is non-intoxicating, so it fits a morning cup. That's why we built around it.

CBG and the new total-THC rule

CBG is non-intoxicating, and it is not THC. Starting November 12, 2026, though, the new federal rule looks at the whole product: it counts total THC, THCA included, in each container. So for any CBG product, check the lab reports. Ours are posted on the certificate of analysis page, and they show no detectable THC in our CBD coffee, CBG coffee or CBG tincture.

Companies that built their entire business model on hemp-derived THC are now scrambling to reformulate or find a new niche. Our products use broad-spectrum hemp extract, with the THC removed.

We also developed our own water-soluble CBG formula, built on a nano-emulsion.

The cannabinoid beverage market is sorting itself out

The cannabis beverage market is projected to grow from roughly $1-4 billion in 2026 to somewhere between $7-24 billion by the mid-2030s, depending on which research firm you ask. The range is wide because the regulatory landscape is still shifting.

We think the brands that last will be built on non-intoxicating cannabinoids, in drinks people can have with breakfast. Not on 5-10mg cans of hemp-derived THC.

We picked CBG. We picked 0% THC. We invested in water-soluble technology. We wanted something that makes sense in a coffee cup.

Shop our CBG coffee and exclusive water soluble CBG tincture at buddhabeanscoffee.com.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Buddha Beans has been a CBG-first company since day one. Our Black Label CBG Coffee, Colombia CBG Coffee, and Water-Soluble CBG Tincture are non-intoxicating and use broad-spectrum hemp extract with no detectable THC. See the full product lineup.

Frequently asked questions about CBG vs THC regulation

How does the new federal hemp law treat CBG?

The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp by its delta-9 THC content. That changes shape on November 12, 2026, when Section 781 of Public Law 119-37 measures hemp by total THC and caps finished products at 0.4mg total THC per container. CBG itself is not THC and is non-intoxicating, but the new limit applies to the whole product, so check the lab report. Buddha Beans CBG coffee is made with broad-spectrum hemp extract, and third-party lab tests found no detectable THC (see the lab reports). State rules on CBD in food vary.

What is the new federal THC cap for beverages?

A provision in a federal funding bill signed in November 2025 caps final hemp-derived cannabinoid products, beverages included, at 0.4mg combined total THC per container, starting November 12, 2026. Most THC seltzers and drinks on the market contain 5-10mg per can. The provision also excludes cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant from the hemp definition.

Can you fail a drug test from CBG?

CBG itself does not trigger standard drug tests, which screen for THC metabolites. However, full-spectrum CBG products can contain trace amounts of THC. Buddha Beans products use broad-spectrum hemp extract, and third-party lab tests found no detectable THC. Individuals subject to drug testing should consult their testing administrator about specific product ingredients.

Why do some coffee companies use CBG instead of THC?

CBG is non-intoxicating. THC is intoxicating. Coffee is a morning drink, and Buddha Beans chose CBG because THC does not belong in a morning cup.

CBG vs THC: Key Differences