Business
Could Cannabis-Infused Beverages Ever Overtake Beer and Wine Sales After Federal Legalization?
Would the country ever consume more weed-infused beverages than beer or wine?
In all new legal market structures, you will find consumers yet to have indulged in any form of cannabis, despite the steady pace at which adult use is getting legalized. The use of drinks could pose a simple and friendly method of delivery to new users. According to reports by New Food, Jake Bullock, founder, and CEO of Cann, a company that deals in cannabis-infused drinks, said that the beverage sector is among the fastest developing in the marijuana industry.
Bullock stated that the company is trying to produce something unrestricted and fresh that has never been tried before. He added that the aim of the firm is not to draw marijuana smokers from their joints. Instead, it is to attract alcohol drinkers from their beers.
AN EXPANDING MOVEMENT
In areas that have legalized cannabis for recreational use, THC-infused drinks are found on the same shelves as other drinks like wine and beers. This raises the question of whether producers of alcoholic drinks should be worried about competition from cannabis-infused drinks. These questions were answered by experts in these industries in a November 2021 report published by Winemag.com.
Colleen McClellan, a trained sommelier and the provincial director of client solutions in Datassential, which is a prominent food and drink insights platform, anticipates business openings in the THC-infused beverages space. She said she thinks that we will keep seeing more interest and use in these drinks as other states soften the regulations.
McClellan forecasts that brands will keep entering the THC beverage space, ultimately leading to a merger.
She says that there are some consumers that relish the use of marijuana THC-infused products because it gives a useful benefit minus the hangover effect. In the United States, consumers’ knowledge of THC drinks increased in 2021 by over 9%, and now 51% of adults over 21 years affirm experience with them, according to a recent report by Datassential. The organization also discovered that THC drinks have the most amount of awareness and interest among older generations.
This may be because of the progress the marijuana industry marketing has achieved over the last decade. In a lot of cities in the United States, going into a dispensary is similar to entering a swanky cafe or an apple store. Cannabis has never been so customized as now when you can pick the strength, strain, and method of use, just like a bag of coffee beans.
According to the Global Cannabis Beverages Industry, a report released by Reportlinker.com last January noted that the global marijuana beverages market was valued at 799.8 million dollars in 2020 and is predicted to get to a new level of 2 billion dollars by 2026, increasing at a CAGR of 16.9%.
As found in the report, the alcoholic portion is readjusted to an amended 15.7% CAGR for the duration of the next seven years.
In the meantime, the non-alcoholic portion is predicted to increase at a 17.5% CAGR to get to 1.6 billion dollars by 2026.
CANN’S CURRENT ACTIONS
Cann, at a fundraising event last February, corroborated a 27 million dollars Series A financing round from existing investors such as Imaginary Ventures, new institutional capital, also from a new roster of celebrity investors like Adam Devine, Sara Foster, Zoey Deutch, Nina Dobrev, Rosario Dawson, and Jordan Cooper.
To add to this landmark financing round, Cann also announced its first international expansion with the launching of the brand in Canada. Jake Bullock said that more than three years ago, they were informed that consumers did not want THC in drinks and that, at best, they were a novelty. However, their expansion to Canada and this fundraiser show that microdose drinks have come to stay. Adults around the world are eager for an alcohol alternative that certainly provides a social buzz and also puts taste first.
BELIEFS OF EXPERTS IN THE MARKET
Morgan McLachlan, master distiller, chief product officer, and co-founder of AMASS, a beverage company that specializes in Botanics-based adaptogenic beverages. Recently, she helped in developing Afterdream, a marijuana-infused non-alcoholic spirit that was created to achieve what the company depicts as a mind-mellowing, limb-loosening high that imitates the feeling gotten by a potent cocktail, that she believes will appeal to people who drink alcohol also.
McLachlan says non-alcoholic beverages and marijuana beverages are the most rapidly growing sectors of the beverage market, with sales rising from 67.8 million dollars in 2019 to 95.2 million dollars in 2020.
She added that the use of recreational cannabis by adults is a rapidly expanding market, and non-alcoholic drinks have even a more swift growth, and that both low and no ABV sectors have risen 506% since 2015 and are expected to attain 280 million dollars in earnings this year. Analysts at Distill Ventures reported that 58% of consumers drink more soft drinks than last year.
Even with this growth in the market, Jim Higdon, chief communication officer and co-founder of a Kentucky-based company that manufactures full-spectrum hemp oils named Cornbread Hemp, does not think traditional alcohol, beer, or wine producers need to be worried.
Higdon says that THC drinks still have a place. However, the place is likely not in the hands of a wine enthusiast with a refined palate as the objective customer for a cannabis beverage is either a person who wants to reduce their alcohol consumption or a novice consumer searching for a non-smoking alternative to consuming marijuana.
It is also his belief that the prosperity of THC-infused beverages will eventually depend on their taste. He also believes marijuana drinks might not be the best appeal to wine enthusiasts to bring them over to weed.
CONCLUSION
We cannot decisively say that the introduction and sale of cannabis will overtake the normal alcohol like beers and wines or spirits, despite the increasing popularity of cannabis. There are still some individuals who prefer to take the regular alcohol to cannabis and others who haven’t tried weed at all. Not until the sale of THC-infused beverages becomes widespread we won’t really know.
Business
A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social
When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.
For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.
Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.
The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System
The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.
The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.
The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.
Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.
Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging
Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.
It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.
The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.
Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.
The Economic and Social Impact
The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.
It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?
A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started
The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.
Now the call is for bold next moves.
- Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
- Include CBD under Medicare coverage
- Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing
These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.
What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine
For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.
It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.
It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
Four marijuana companies, including a multistate operator, have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in which they allege the federal MJ prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act is no longer constitutional.
According to the complaint, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, retailer Canna Provisions, Treevit delivery service CEO Gyasi Sellers, cultivator Wiseacre Farm and MSO Verano Holdings Corp. are all harmed by “the federal government’s unconstitutional ban on cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing intrastate marijuana.”
Verano is headquartered in Chicago but has operations in Massachusetts; the other three operators are based in Massachusetts.
The lawsuit seeks a ruling that the “Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional as applied to the intrastate cultivation, manufacture, possession, and distribution of marijuana pursuant to state law.”
The companies want the case to go before the U.S. Supreme Court.
They hired prominent law firm Boies Schiller Flexner to represent them.
The New York-based firm’s principal is David Boies, whose former clients include Microsoft, former presidential candidate Al Gore and Elizabeth Holmes’ disgraced startup Theranos.
Similar challenges to the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) have failed.
One such challenge led to a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2005.
In Gonzalez vs. Raich, the highest court in the United States ruled in a 6-3 decision that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution gave Congress the power to outlaw marijuana federally, even though state laws allow the cultivation and sale of cannabis.
In the 18 years since that ruling, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use marijuana and the federal government has allowed a multibillion-dollar cannabis industry to thrive.
Since both Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice, currently headed by Garland, have declined to intervene in state-licensed marijuana markets, the key facts that led to the Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling “no longer apply,” Boies said in a statement Thursday.
“The Supreme Court has since made clear that the federal government lacks the authority to regulate purely intrastate commerce,” Boies said.
“Moreover, the facts on which those precedents are based are no longer true.”
Verano President Darren Weiss said in a statement the company is “prepared to bring this case all the way to the Supreme Court in order to align federal law with how Congress has acted for years.”
While the Biden administration’s push to reschedule marijuana would help solve marijuana operators’ federal tax woes, neither rescheduling nor modest Congressional reforms such as the SAFER Banking Act “solve the fundamental issue,” Weiss added.
“The application of the CSA to lawful state-run cannabis business is an unconstitutional overreach on state sovereignty that has led to decades of harm, failed businesses, lost jobs, and unsafe working conditions.”
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