Hemp Beverage Alliance Board Candidate: Rick Schepp of Señorita THC Margaritas (Green Thumb Industries / Agrify Corporation)
HBA will elect three members to the board of directors in June. Each candidate has been invited to post information about their candidacy for voters to review.
As a passionate advocate for cannabis, and hemp-derived THC beverages in particular, I am committed to working with my HBA colleagues to ensure the long-term success of this transformative category. At Green Thumb Industries, we believe THC beverages and regulated cannabis can and should coexist to bring the power of cannabis to more Americans through accessible, social, and wellness-driven formats.
Hemp beverages represent one of the most exciting growth opportunities in the cannabis space. The future depends on uniting the strengths of both the cannabis and hemp sectors—bridging regulatory, commercial, and cultural divides to build a stable, consumer-first market.
My candidacy is rooted in a belief that hemp beverages must be protected and elevated—not just as an extension of cannabis, but as a powerful platform in their own right. I bring a commercial mindset shaped by leadership roles in both alcohol and cannabis, having worked across distribution, policy, and brand building on brands like Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and now Señorita THC Margaritas.
Alongside GTI’s dedicated Government Affairs team who has years of experience on these very topics, I am committed to working with HBA to legitimize and safeguard this category for the long haul.
On the Board, I will champion:
Strong, sensible regulatory standards that ensure safety without unnecessary complexity or bureaucracy;
Collaboration between cannabis and hemp stakeholders to align on shared goals;
Clear, unified messaging to policymakers and retailers about the legitimacy and potential of hemp beverages;
A strategic, long-term approach that favors lasting growth over short-term wins.
We have a rare opportunity to define the future of this category. I’m eager to bring clarity, unity, and bold leadership to the table—and to ensure hemp beverages thrive for generations to come.
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