make mine a thc

2 budding Houston cannabis companies pop open new THC-infused seltzers soon to hit Texas shelves

Restaurants, bars, and stores all over Texas will soon see cannabis-infused seltzers on their menus and shelves in May.

Photo courtesy of Bayou City Hemp Company

Since the rise of low THC and CBD products in Texas, we've nearly seen it all. Gummies, chocolate, candy, baked goods, and more. But now, two Houston companies have developed the next hottest (or should we say coolest?) product on the market: cannabis-infused seltzers. And now they'll be distributed all across the state.

Bayou City Hemp Company (BCHC) has teamed up with award-winning 8th Wonder Brewery, Distillery, and Cannabis to manufacture these nonalcoholic beverages for statewide distribution. They have previously worked together since 2021 to pioneer the first-ever hemp-infused seltzer in the state.

Their latest drinks will be shared throughout Texas by Flood Distribution, in a huge milestone for the beverage and cannabis industries. In a press release, Flood Distribution co-founder Kyle White stated "now" is the time to get into the ever-expanding industry.

"THC-infused beverages are safe, delicious, and offer clients the opportunity to be at the forefront of this industry and steer the direction it will head in the future," White said.

In addition to BCHC's THC-infused ranch water and paloma seltzers, a few of the beverages that will be available all throughout Texas include 8th Wonder's Trillionaire, Lil Bit, and Wonder Water. Other offerings include drinks that have been already established in other areas of the country, such as Happi, Good Feels, Drippy, and more.

“It’s a huge milestone for Happi to not only become the first national cannabis beverage brand with local distribution in Texas, but to also launch our unique functional seltzers Happi Glow and Happi Nightcap with this team,” said Lisa Hurwitz, Happi president and cofounder. “Collaborating with these partners to locally produce Happi really makes us feel at home in Texas.”

To ensure the beverages are compliant with Texas law, they have been formulated using BCHC's proprietary technology with hemp-derived Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC.

BCHC CIO Stephen Horton explained the innovations by the company's Houston-based research and development lab have "enabled [them] to to develop some of the most delicious and effective" beverages.

“At Bayou City Hemp Company, we have the expertise to formulate a wide range of functional and flavorful beverages that meet the needs and preferences of today’s discerning consumers,” said Horton.

Bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and many other marketplaces in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio will soon see these seltzers on their menus and store shelves in May.

cannabis houston 8th Wonder

high income households

Houston suburb has top-20 highest rate of new wealthy residents in U.S.

Photo courtesy of Visit Houston

Conroe is a really desirable place to live for renters.

A new income study has revealed Houston's wealthiest aren't settling down in Pearland anymore — they've set their sights on Conroe, instead.

Conroe had one of the highest growth rates of new wealthy residents nationwide in SmartAsset's new analysis, "Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2026 Study."

Based on U.S. Census income data, SmartAsset's experts ranked 357 U.S. cities with at least 100,000 residents based on the growth in high-income households as a percentage of total households between 2023 and 2024. The report defines high-income households as those earning an income of at least $200,000.

Conroe had the fifth-highest growth in wealthy households in Texas from 2023-2024, and it ranked No. 20 nationwide.

The report's findings show Conroe had 3,034 high-income households in 2023. By the following year, the suburb had a near 60-percent growth rate in wealthy earners, bringing the total number of high-income households to 5,220.

A total 11.5 percent of all Conroe households made at least $200,000 in income in 2024. For added context, the median household income for a Conroe household during that same year was $80,411.

The rise in wealthy newcomers might not be as much of a surprise to locals: Conroe was among the most desirable suburbs to move to in 2025, and it was ranked in a top-25 best city for renters in America.

According to the report, an influx of affluent households can have a significant impact on a city's local economy, most commonly through contributing "more dollars to the local and state tax bases, and to surrounding businesses."

"At the same time, this relative economic strength may sway entities to cater more to the preferences of these households to earn their patronage," the report said. "Quick growth in high income households may accelerate tax collection and business prosperity, just as their departure may cause some concern for local politicians, business owners, and neighbors."

In SmartAsset's 2025 report, Pearland was the Houston-area city that added the most wealthy new residents, but that figure has since plummeted. Pearland ranked No. 236 in this year's rankings with a mere 4.2 percent growth rate in high-income households from 2023-2024.

Texas cities with the biggest growth in high-income households
The East Texas city of Beaumont, located about 90 miles from Houston, had the biggest growth rate of high-earners in Texas from 2023-2024, and it ranked No. 6 nationally.

Two more Houston-area cities ranked in the top 100: Atascocita (No. 66) and League City (No. 77). Atascocita had a 30.4 percent growth rate in high earners from 2023-2024, adding up to 6,512 wealthy households. League City had 11,404 high-income households in 2024, an increase of 27.2 percent from the year before.

Other Texas cities that ranked among the national top 100 include:

No. 8 – Odessa
No. 14 – Laredo
No. 18 – College Station
No. 28 – Waco
No. 31 – Mesquite
No. 56 – Arlington
No. 59 – Amarillo
No. 69 – McKinney
No. 72 – McAllen
No. 90 – Irving
No. 94 – Brownsville

houston suburbs conroe smartasset wealthy suburbs affluent households

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high income households

Houston suburb has top-20 highest rate of new wealthy residents in U.S.