In this episode, we talk with Mary Bernuth, a psychotherapist who became the co-founder of Pharos Brands, a growing hemp beverage company. Mary shares how working with people who struggled with alcohol made her want to build a safer, low-dose THC drink. Her story shows how one business owner saw a real problem and created a simple, helpful product to solve it.

We explore how the hemp drink market is growing, why seniors like gentle THC drinks, and how to educate distributors on this new category. Mary breaks down the business side of co-packing, testing, quality control, and how the three-tier system works in beverages. She also explains how the new hemp policy changes are pushing companies to work together and speak with one clear message.

Mary closes by sharing what business owners should watch for in 2026, from rising demand to new education programs for older adults. She explains the risks for farmers, brands, and the supply chain if the rules shift toward a ban instead of smart regulation. And she shows why she believes hemp drinks can open doors for the whole cannabis industry and help more people discover safer, better ways to socialize.