Alumni Alum Taps the Cannabis Market—With a Health-Oriented Twist Stories You May Like For These Two Classmates, Sustainable Travel Is in the ‘Bag’ ‘Smart Cups,’ Clever Idea: Alum’s Company 3D Prints Ingredients Hotelie’s Line of Plant-Based Fitness Drinks Goes National Breanna Neff ’16 launched Brelixi, whose drink mixes combine fast-acting THC or CBD with ingredients like fruit juices and electrolytes By Melissa Newcomb When Breanna Neff ’16 is on a road trip, she often likes to drop into local cannabis dispensaries to see what new or usual products they have on offer. Something she encountered in Colorado in the early 2000s inspired a fascination—and later, her own business. Neff found a cannabis edible that takes effect much more quickly than usual; impressed, she began researching how it worked—and thinking about how it could be combined with other ingredients to offer health benefits. In 2023, the former CALS food science major launched Brelixi, which sells THC and CBD drink mixes that contain fast-acting cannabis to consumers aged 21 and older. Brelixi's flavored drink mixes. (Both substances are found in the Cannabis sativa—a.k.a. hemp—plant. CBD lacks THC’s psychoactive properties and doesn’t cause a “high,” but has become popular in recent years for a variety of medicinal and other uses, including reducing anxiety.) Brelixi’s mixes use a technology known as nanoemulsification—which, Neff says, allow the active ingredients to go directly into the bloodstream after consumption, instead of needing to be digested. As she explains, this enables the compounds to take effect in five to 15 minutes, while traditional edibles can take an hour or more. That delayed onset can make users think an edible didn’t work—and be unprepared when it kicks in later—or ingest more because they don’t feel it, only to end up taking too much. “A lot of people have had negative experiences with edibles because of the lack of rapid onset time,” says Neff. Brelixi’s mixes use a technology that allows its active ingredients to go directly into the bloodstream after consumption, instead of needing to be digested. Plus, she observes, there was a dearth of healthy options on the market—with products generally taking the form of candy or baked goods. Brelixi currently sells two flavored lemonade powders—a CBD one with elderberry and hibiscus and a THC one with yuzu and turmeric—plus unflavored versions of both. The business, Neff says, aims to appeal to a wide audience, including recreational THC users who want to avoid smoking or vaping; people looking for a healthier alternative to alcohol; and those who use CBD to manage anxiety or the symptoms of diseases like Crohn’s, lupus, or MS. Stories You May Like For These Two Classmates, Sustainable Travel Is in the ‘Bag’ ‘Smart Cups,’ Clever Idea: Alum’s Company 3D Prints Ingredients Neff’s products also include electrolytes as well as other ingredients, found in wellness supplements, that are designed to reduce stress and increase focus—with the goal of making consumers feel calm but not lethargic. At a trade show in NYC. “Brelixi is fast-acting cannabis meets functional wellness,” says Neff, who previously worked in product development and food safety at several companies. “Our focus is on quality ingredients that also have a therapeutic benefit.” (Neff has started a consulting firm, Brelixi Wellness Solutions, to help other food, beverage, and supplements businesses develop their products—both cannabis-related and otherwise—which have ranged from children’s probiotics to CBD-infused cat treats.) Brelixi’s flavored mixes come in packets—priced at $45 for a box of five—similar to those of other powdered drinks, like instant iced tea; the website advertises them as “your new back-pocket buddy for instant chill, relaxation, and elevation.” The unflavored ones—sold in jars and ranging from $45 for the THC version to around $60 for the CBD—can be dissolved into other beverages or incorporated into foods. Brelixi is fast-acting cannabis meets functional wellness. Our focus is on quality ingredients that also have a therapeutic benefit. “It’s very customizable,” says Neff, whose website offers recipes for mocktails using her powders, like the THC Pineapple-tini and the CBD Blueberry Bliss Spritzer. “So it’s great for beginners and people who want to play around with the product.” Brelixi—a portmanteau meaning “Breanna’s elixir”—has been featured in major media like Essence magazine, which included Neff in a story on cannabis businesses owned by Black women. Esquire put the brand on a list of the “Best THC Drinks for a Happy Hour High,” noting that “the yuzu-and-turmeric lemonade flavor tastes downright healthy.” Says Neff: “It’s rewarding to know the formulation I created in my head is now being positively felt in people’s bodies.” (Top: Illustration by Ashley Osburn / Cornell University; all photos provided.) Published September 5, 2025 Comments Dian Nafis, Class of 1977 16 Sep, 2025 I am wondering if Breanna is related to the Neff family from Centerport, NY, my hometown. June Neff was a few years older than I was and graduated from Cornell in (I believe) 1974. I was friends with June’s sisters growing up and they were all super smart! I have lived in Hawaii and Oregon for the past 40+ years and have lost touch with folks in Centerport but reading this story enabled me to reminisce a bit. Breanna is an impressive young woman! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles How Much Do You Know about Africana Studies on the Hill? 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