Nowadays in Canada, because the recent marijuana legalization, there’s a lot of buzz around the cannabis-infused beverages. Previously we have explained a little about CBD water, but this is not the only cannabis-infused beverage we can find, luckily, the options are expanding every day with both new companies and traditional beverages companies.
Growing business
Contrary to what we believe, cannabis drinks are not all only to get high, they can be used for their medicinal benefits.
At the end of 2018, we read about beer giants like Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, and Heineken was exploring cannabis products and signing deals with Canadian marijuana producers.
One of the biggest surprises was Coca-Cola, whose representative expressed they were watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD (one of the main ingredients in weed) as an ingredient in “wellness beverages”.
According to a 2017 Health Canada survey, only 3% of cannabis users said they consume pot in a liquid form. However, after legalization in October 2018, this number could have changed.
Canada is not the only country where cannabis business is expanding, marijuana-infused beverages could become a $600 million market in the US in the next four years, according to Canaccord Genuity. Revenue from cannabis beverages could outpace the general demand for cannabis products by over two times, capturing 20% of the market for marijuana edibles by 2022.
It’s important to remember that marijuana is not legal across the US, just some states, it means this stats could change if the legalization process expands there.
Canaccord estimates CBD beverages will become a $260 million market by 2022, and THC-infused beverages a $340 million market.
According to the experts in Canaccord Genuity, CBD beverages could be part of the rising trend in wellness beverages.
Probably, we’re living the best times to invest and enjoy the benefits of this new-expanding business.
Innovation
Drinks can be infused with cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or both. CBD contains less than 0.1% THC, the ingredient famous by getting you high.
According to Terry Lake, the vice-president of corporate responsibility for HEXO Corp.: because cannabis is the active ingredient, the company’s drinks will not have alcohol.
“It could be a dealcoholized beer that is infused with ingredients of cannabis. And it could be made up of many chemicals like THC, which gets you high, and CBD which does not get you high and will work more for anti-inflammatory and mood modulation qualities,” he expressed to local newspapers.
The taste of the cannabis drinks will depend on the flavor you buy.
Best weed drinks
Some experts recommend that beginners should try mocktails and tonics first. It can be something as simple as Turkish Coffee, which uses cannabis butter in a take on Vietnamese Coffee.
Some famous brands
- Heineken-owed Lagunitas released an IPA-inspired beer that is made out of hops and cannabis, called Hi-Fi Hops. According to the creators, this beverage is alcohol-free and does not contain any carbs or calories.
- Oregon’s Coalition Brewing also released a CBD-infused beer called Two Flowers IPA.
- In the last trimester of 2018, Molson Coors announced it was partnering with Quebec-based pot producer, HEXO Corp., and making a non-alcoholic weed beverage for the Canadian market.
- Constellation Brands, the company that produces: Corona and Negro Modelo, along with whiskeys, tequilas, and vodkas have invested $4 billion in Ontario pot producer Canopy Growth.
- To taste cannabis in alcohol without homemade infusions or the THC high, Humboldt Distillery’s Humboldt’s Finest Vodka is a great choice. According to the company, it is made from hemp and is THC-free.
Some famous drinks and liquid mixers
- Cannabis infused liquors: Created similar to other homemade infusions, but with heat.
- Cannabis butter, cream, or syrup: Quick ways to drink your medicine in any beverage. Adding lecithin helps your body absorb the cannabis compounds more quickly.
- Cannabis tinctures: These concentrated liquids are popular among medical marijuana patients though they can be very strong. A single drop is often all that is needed for a drink.
- Cannabis bitters. Just like the bitters we use often in the bar, these two are very concentrated.
In Canada, edibles and drinkables will need to be regulated and consumers shouldn’t expect to see anything on shelves soon, they will probably be in the market for October 2019. The federal government expressed that regulating edibles is a “complex undertaking” as there are potential unique health risks and harms that need to be understood before it becomes legal.
Have you tried on these drinks? Comment below!
