Appalachian Girls Cannabis: Building THC Drinks in Ohio, Surviving Regulation and Scaling From Zero to 300 Stores

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to build a real cannabis beverage company while the rules keep changing?In this episode, Nate Fochtman sits down with the Appalachian Girls Cannabis co-founders (Joey Ellwood, Amy Garland & Josh Crosier) for a founder-to-founder conversation about what it takes to scale a THC drink brand in Ohio from the ground up.We talk about the early days selling smokable hemp flower, the pivot into beverages, and how they went from zero drink accounts to 300+ retail doors in a year - largely through self-distribution, hustle, and learning in real time.This isn’t a hype conversation. It’s the operator reality: compliance pressure, distribution friction, DTC pivots, dose strategy (5mg, 10mg, 25mg, 50mg), and why “Appalachian Girls” is more intentional than people assume.If you’re building in hemp, cannabis, or adult beverage - this is a masterclass in staying steady when the market refuses to be.Episode Highlights:Why they built a true portfolio (not just flavor extensions)How the team formed and what each founder brings to the tableThe pivot from flower to beverages and what changed everythingScaling through self-distribution and building retail relationshipsHow regulatory uncertainty impacts banks, insurance, and growth plansWhy dosage variety matters for bars, restaurants, and everyday consumersThe DTC shift and what it takes to execute fast under pressureWhy they’re focused on the Appalachian region as a “blue ocean” strategyFind Appalachian Girls Cannabis: AppGirlsCannabis.comSocial: @AppGirlsCannabisSubscribe for more founder stories from the front lines of adult beverage, hemp, and emerging categories.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com