A new woman-led distributor enters the market with a portfolio built entirely around THC-infused, functional, and zero-proof beverages.
NEW ORLEANS, LA, December 24, 2025 — A major shift in the South’s beverage landscape begins today with the launch of Cali Sober Distribution, Louisiana’s first woman-owned and women-powered distribution company built exclusively for THC-infused, functional, and zero-proof beverages. The company enters the market with a simple but disruptive premise: no alcohol portfolio to protect and no competing agendas to dilute focus.
According to Whitney Economics, women are now one of the fastest-growing consumer segments for THC beverages. Yet distribution in this category remains dominated by traditional alcohol systems that often deprioritize or overlook alternatives. Cali Sober Distribution is positioning itself to fill that gap for retailers, hospitality groups, and on-premise operators who are adapting to a noticeable consumer shift away from alcohol.
“Most distributors still treat THC and functional beverages as secondary categories,” said Founder and President Monica Olano. “We built a company where these products are the priority. This category deserves intentional leadership, not a spot wedged between legacy alcohol brands.”
The company launches with a curated portfolio that includes Hyde’s Hail Mary, Cali Sober, Utokia, Grow Cannabis, Hippie Water, and Happie, all of whom intentionally sought a Louisiana partner aligned with the future of alcohol alternatives. These brands cited the distributor’s consumer understanding, cultural fluency, and willingness to challenge outdated distribution norms as key reasons for partnering.
In 2024, Louisiana added mandatory processors and distributors to the hemp beverage supply chain. While the regulations were framed as safety measures, the practical impact made the state one of the most difficult markets for brands to enter. Many companies opted out entirely after encountering prohibitive fees or a lack of willing partners. Olano says that is exactly why the company was created. “Brands were not avoiding Louisiana. They were boxed out of it. We built the path they needed.”
This focus on accessibility was a significant draw for partners like Utokia, which noted that the company was the only distributor it seriously considered because it reflects the demographic that actually uses THC and functional beverages. National marketing and sales strategies often fail in Louisiana. The state operates on community, trust, and longstanding local loyalty rather than trend cycles or marketing budgets. “Louisiana does not behave like the rest of the country,” Olano said. “Success here is determined by cultural relevance and genuine relationship building.”
Brand partners echoed this sentiment. Happie cited Louisiana’s uniquely community-driven environment as a reason the company required a distributor that understands how wellness categories take root in the South. Hippie Water added that Cali Sober Distribution is supporting a broader movement toward intentional consumption rather than treating alcohol alternatives as a passing trend.
Brand partners have called this leadership structure both rare and necessary. Grow Cannabis CEO Hunter Smith noted that the company’s long-standing commitment to the alcohol-alternative category made Cali Sober Distribution the ideal partner for entering Louisiana.
With national conversations about hemp-derived cannabinoids evolving rapidly, many distributors have responded with caution or unpredictability. Cali Sober Distribution has chosen a more deliberate path. “We are not here to react to headlines,” Olano said. “We are building a company that can adapt without compromising consumer access or long-term stability.”
The company’s independent and bootstrapped structure allows it to stay nimble while maintaining mission alignment, a factor that Cali Sober and other partners cited as central to their decision to work with the distributor.
Retailers, hospitality operators, and brands seeking distribution support can learn more at CaliSoberDistribution.com.
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About Cali Sober Distribution
Cali Sober Distribution is Louisiana’s first distribution company dedicated entirely to THC-infused, functional, and zero-proof beverages. Built by women, rooted in Louisiana’s cultural landscape, and informed by deep experience in cannabis operations, alcohol-free consumer behavior, and the state’s unique retail and hospitality ecosystem, the company provides a transparent and compliant pathway for brands to enter Louisiana’s market while helping retailers and operators meet the surging demand for alcohol alternatives. Cali Sober Distribution is setting a new standard for what modern beverage distribution can look like in the South.
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