Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 12, 2026
Green Monke Expands to Virginia, Opening Northeast Distribution for Hemp Beverages
TLDR
- Green Monke gains a strategic advantage by entering Virginia's regulated market first, positioning itself for expansion into New York and Massachusetts through established distribution partnerships.
- Green Monke adapts its beverages to Virginia's 2mg THC cap using a formulation that prioritizes taste and clarity over high CBD ratios, ensuring compliance and consumer enjoyment.
- Green Monke's expansion brings high-quality alcohol alternatives to more consumers while dedicating 1% of revenue to mental health initiatives, fostering well-being and social connection.
- Green Monke's award-winning hemp beverages, including Tropical Citrus and Mango Guava, now offer Virginians a sessionable, giggle-inducing experience with precise nano-emulsion technology for consistent effects.
Impact - Why it Matters
This expansion represents a significant development in the rapidly growing hemp beverage market, offering consumers in Virginia and eventually other Northeast states access to regulated, high-quality alcohol alternatives. As the cannabis and hemp industries navigate federal uncertainty, Green Monke's entry into Virginia's structured regulatory environment provides consumers with safer, tested products while supporting the legitimization of the entire category. The partnership with major retailers like Total Wine & More makes these products more accessible to mainstream consumers, potentially shifting social drinking habits toward lower-risk alternatives. For the industry, this move demonstrates how compliant brands can successfully navigate state-by-state regulations while maintaining product consistency and quality standards.
Summary
Green Monke USA, an award-winning hemp-derived Delta-9 beverage brand, has announced a major expansion into Virginia through a new distribution agreement, making its premium Happy Sodas available to approximately 8.75 million consumers across 12 states. The company, led by Co-Founder & CEO Pat Gleeson, has delivered its first purchase orders featuring three leading SKUs: award-winning Tropical Citrus, best-selling Blue Raspberry, and popular Mango Guava. These beverages have been specifically formulated to comply with Virginia's regulatory environment that caps THC content at 2mg per can, positioning Green Monke as one of the first non-Virginia brands to enter this market with proven quality and exceptional taste.
The Virginia launch represents a strategic move that opens future distribution routes for key Northeast markets including New York and Massachusetts. Green Monke is leveraging Virginia's regulatory clarity, managed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), to introduce its high national standards to the state's hemp market. This expansion holds particular significance as Virginia serves as the corporate home of Total Wine & More, a leading national retailer with 20 locations across the state, creating valuable retail partnerships for the brand. The company's formulation focuses on clarity and enjoyment rather than overwhelming consumers with high CBD ratios that can affect taste and effects, offering what they describe as an "approachable, sessionable experience."
Green Monke's portfolio includes its Happy Sodas line designed as alcohol alternatives, featuring fast-acting nano-emulsion technology for precise potency with verified testing results. The company has also established strategic partnerships with Oak View Group (OVG) to offer its beverages at select sports and entertainment venues in the U.S. and UK, and serves as the exclusive beverage partner for the global cannabis brand Cookies. As part of its corporate mission, Green Monke dedicates 1% of all revenues to support local agencies addressing mental illness and social isolation problems. Consumers can learn more about Green Monke Happy Sodas and purchase products through their official website at www.greenmonkehemp.com/s/shop, with additional information available on their main site at www.greenmonkehemp.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Green Monke Expands to Virginia, Opening Northeast Distribution for Hemp Beverages
