Hemp, Hops, and Heart: Building a Mission-Driven Cannabis Beverage Brand

What does it take to build one of the oldest hemp THC beverage brands in the country — starting from zero knowledge of cannabis, in the middle of a pandemic, with a Pepsi chemist and a phone call from Jim Belushi? In this episode, Donna Harris sits down with James Hunter, founder of Highbridge Premium, to talk about how a venture capital and legal background became the foundation for a nationally distributing hemp beverage company. James shares the story behind Highbridge's three product lines, the science of making cannabis beverages that actually taste good, the regulatory landscape of hemp-derived THC, and the deeply moving American Legion initiative that puts cannabis wellness tools in the hands of veterans struggling with alcoholism, chronic pain, and suicide. This one goes places you won’t expect.ABOUT THE GUESTJames Hunter is the founder of Highbridge Premium, one of the oldest hemp THC beverage brands in the United States. Coming from a legal and venture capital background, James spent nearly two years researching the cannabis market before launching Highbridge in 2019 and beginning production in 2020-2021. Highbridge currently produces and distributes eight SKUs across eight states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, with distribution rights extending to Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC. The company is on track to reach 20 states by the end of 2027.HIGHBRIDGE PREMIUM PRODUCT LINES•      Beer Suite — Easy Days (5mg light beer style), Alpine Rush (8mg craft style), Nablina Del Pacifico (10mg Mexican style)•      Seltzers — Reduced carbonation by 35%; unique flavor profiles including basil, cucumber mint, and herb-fruit blends•      Jim Belushi Collaboration — Partnership with Jim Belushi’s Oregon farmRESOURCES AND LINKS•      Highbridge Premium: http://hybridpremium.com•      Realm of Caring / Charlotte’s Web: http://realmofcaring.org•      American Legion: http://legion.org CONNECT WITH DONNA HARRIS•      Website: https://mysimplebookkeeping.com•      Phone: 801-692-0032•      Books & Backbone Podcast on Spotify