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With increasing number of drinks business players showing interest in the emerging recreational cannabis market. Michigan has voted to ban all cannabis-infused drinks in a pre-emptive move should the state legalize marijuana for recreational use next month.
Here’s the deal…
That Michigan legislation which was approved this week by a 101-4 vote (four potheads?) is widely expected to be signed into law Gov. Rick Snyder, according to the Drinks Business,
Pending approval, the new legislation wound affectively BAN drinks including beer, wine, spirits and RTD products infused with cannabis should recreational marijuana be legalized in November.
The primary reason given for the ban is that cannabis-infused alcohol could worsen the effects of drunk driving. (Yah think?)
Others, however, argue that the sale of cannabis infused drinks should be banned anyway, given the existing federal ban on marijuana in the US.
And given that Michigan borders Canada, which is poised to legalize recreational cannabis throughout the nationally on October 17th, Michigan’s legislation might be seen as preemptive on several levels…
While cannabis drinks is still a small and emerging market, many key players in the drinks industry have expressed an interest in joining the sector.
Last month, one of the first firms to throw its hat into the recreational cannabis ring, Constellation Brands, home to Corona and other Mexican brands, announced plans to up its stake in Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth to 38%.
UK-based Diageo is currently exploring the possibility of developing its own line of CBD-infused drinks with several Canadian cannabis producers.
Molson Coors has entered into a joint venture with Quebec’s HEXO(a recreational cannabis subsidiary to Canada’s The Hydropothecary) to develop a range of cannabis drinks in Canada.
Heineken-owned Lagunitas has launched a line of non-alcoholic drinks infused with THC, marijuana’s active ingredient.
And even soda giant Coca Cola, is showing interest in drinks infused with CBD, the non-psychoactive compound in marijuana that some see as a health elixir.
Greetings from Michigan image credit: Sufjan Stevens
