•New Orleans-based Crescent Canna has launched Ellora, a new hemp-derived THC spirit alternative. The new brand comes in at 5mg of THC per 1.5-ounce serving with 85mg per 750-ml. bottle and carries a suggested price of $99. Ellora, according to the company, is flavored with lemon verbena and blue agave, and has “earthy floral notes.” The new release is available through Crescent’s website alongside other products like Crescent 9 seltzer, Zexi THC Water, and Wobble THC energy drink, plus other hemp THC edibles and CBD products.

•Leading THC brand Stiiizy has debuted a new line of higher potency hemp THC seltzers across the U.S. The brand, Stiiizy High-Dose Seltzers and Sodas, comes in two doses—10mg or 20mg—and eight flavors, with four—Cream, Grape, Orange, and Pineapple—marketed as sodas, and four—Caribbean Breeze, Mango Tango, Strawberry Kiwi, and Watermelon Wave—labeled as seltzers. While the new products are available for DTC ordering, Stiiizy’s new seltzers and sodas are available in select retail locations across the U.S., including Total Wine in New Jersey and Binny’s in Illinois.

•Ohio has temporarily banned hemp THC products, effective today. The ban, signed by Governor Mike DeWine, lasts for 90 days and will give the state legislature time to enact rules to govern the category. Retailers and on-premise establishments must remove all hemp THC products from shelves and take down any advertising related to those products. The ban, according to the governor, was prompted by hemp THC products that looked like popular candy brands, as well as the extremely high potency of certain gummies.

•Cannabis sales in New York reached $214.4 million for August, the highest single-month total since the Empire State began adult-use sales. While sales have been rising month over month, the August total is a full $52.8 million higher than July. Sales in July were less than $10 million more than June sales. The state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) attributes the growth to the rapid expansion of licensed dispensaries amid growing consumer demand. So far this year, New York has sold $1.4 billion of cannabis, with the OCM projecting a year-end total of $1.8 billion or more.