‘Culture in a Can’: NBA Legend Allen Iverson Debuts THC Soda in 3 Flavors

(Photo: Iverson)

Last week, NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson launched a trio of THC sodas in partnership with Viola, the cannabis company founded in 2011 by fellow basketball player Al Harrington.

The drinks — simply titled “IVERSON,” stylized in all caps — pay homage to the shooting guard’s career touchstones. 96 Nectarine is described as a “smooth, golden flavor” that celebrates the year Iverson joined the league, while Bubba Chuck Berry nods to one of his several nicknames. Cran-Apple Crossover was inspired by his signature, ankle-bruising move, one that he’s widely credited for revolutionizing within the NBA.

Each can contains 10 milligrams of hemp-derived THC per 16-ounce serving. The drinks are currently rolling out at Specs, Total Wine and Circle K locations nationwide at a yet-to-be-announced retail price.

“I’ve always stood for being authentic and disrupting the game,” Iverson said. “Now Circle K has the real AI, and with my drinks, we’re giving people something bigger than just a product — it’s culture in a can.”

Though Iverson and Allen never played on the same team, the duo developed a close business relationship following their respective retirements from the NBA. In 2021, the pair joined forces for the Iverson Collection, a cannabis series that kicked off with an Indica-dominant flower dubbed ’96 — the first of many references to Iverson’s starting year sprinkled across future collaborations.  Iverson and Allen also united for a series of branded merch drops, including hoodies, grinders, lighters and basketballs.

IVERSON is the ex-NBA player’s first collaboration with Horticulture Co., the parent company behind hemp-derived THC beverage brand Tempter’s.

Unlike Viola, which sells out-and-out marijuana products in permitting states, Horticulture Co. specializes in hemp, defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Thanks to legislation passed in 2018, hemp-derived beverages are widely available across much of the United States, allowing products like Iverson much wider access to consumers.

“Partnering on the national rollout of Allen Iverson’s hemp beverage line with Tempter’s allows us to meet growing demand with a product that aligns with our values—innovation, quality, and safety,” Rebekah Stevenson, Circle K’s head of packaged beverage, shared in a news release. “We’re committed to offering customers new, regulated alternatives in a trusted environment, while leading the way in the evolving beverage space—responsibly.”