Cannabis-Infused Sparkling Water: Lehua Brands Expands Canadian Footprint in Ontario

Cannabis has come a long way in recent years. While many of us still enjoy the classic method of rolling up and smoking, there's a growing trend towards sipping our favorite herb in innovative forms. Enter Lehua Brands, a California-based house of brands dedicated to crafting high-quality THC beverages and vapes. Their mission centers around living and loving a life well-served, using sun-grown cannabis and the finest ingredients to infuse their beverages and cartridges with excellence.

Now, Lehua is thrilled to announce its expansion into the Canadian market, launching its brand Voila!—a delicious, cannabis-infused sparkling water. Voila! is a guilt-free option with zero sugar, zero carbs, and zero calories, and it is now available in over 100 stores across Canada, including more than 150 locations in Ontario.

Honeysuckle spoke with Sierra Elaina, CEO of Lehua Brands, to discuss her journey into the cannabis industry, the excitement of launching Voila! in Canada, and what lies ahead for the brand.

Where are you from and how did you get your start in all this?
"I started in the alcoholic beverage industry and owned an agency for over 20 years on a national scale. My first role in cannabis was as a director for Coda Signature, the premier edible brand founded by Chef Lauren Gockley. I had the opportunity to open up California with a record-breaking number of doors and even managed operations in Colorado for a period."

When did you get the idea for Lehua Brands, and what was the reality in launching?
"I was not part of the original team, so I can only speak to my two years during the 'relaunch' of Lehua Brands. We’ve developed new lines like REEFRESH, our non-carbonated, Gold Medal-winning line, and LIVE ORO, focused on health and wellness. We also improved the flavors of Voila! and packaged them into convenient cans. OLALA got a facelift with new bottles, and we created OLALA Root Beer, which won a silver medal at the 2024 California State Fair, along with OC soda—both now available in cans.

We re-entered the vape category with a new line called Smoking Sección, created by our Emerald Cup-winning extraction team. We took a portfolio that had a great foundation and built on it to create a true house of brands. In these challenging times, it’s pretty unheard of to launch so many new products in new markets while continuing to operate efficiently and grow the business. Assembling the right team at the right time was key, as was finding the right partners. A lot of late nights made it all possible."

Talk about Voila! expanding to Canada; what does that mean for the brand?
"When I first started with Lehua, it was the beginning of what I like to call the extinction period—AKA hard times for California cannabis. I was determined to change that and said to our investors, 'Let’s stabilize California and open up in emerging markets.' Canada made sense for many reasons. It’s a health-conscious market, geographically desirable for our intended footprint, and it’s very beverage-friendly. Plus, who doesn’t love Canadians?"

What’s the cannabis culture like out there compared to the States?
"I can speak to what I have observed in Canada, and the first word that comes to mind is friendly. The Canadian market has been welcoming to us as a supplier. From the OCS to our partners and retailers, everyone has been helpful and encouraging. California has faced many challenges, making it understandably hard to stay positive sometimes."

What else can we look forward to?
"We have many exciting new products launching in the next few months. I can share that we’ll introduce REEFRESH Sugar-Free 100mg shots in Grape, Watermelon, and Pineapple Strawberry flavors, along with a Live ORO topical and an innovative surprise I can’t reveal just yet. We’re also looking ahead to our 2025 expansion, and we’ll be announcing the first market very soon."

With its commitment to quality and innovation, Lehua Brands is poised to make a significant impact in the Canadian market, offering a refreshing alternative for cannabis enthusiasts. Stay tuned for what’s next!

For more follow https://www.instagram.com/lehuabrands/