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Will Cannabis Entrepreneurs Switch To Psychedelics?

Company leaders believe that the interest in the emerging space stems from creating a medical impact as well as cannabis regulatory frustrations.

 

By Andrew Ward

The psychedelics space is heating up, and major players have taken notice.

The market is bolstered by a growing number of decriminalization movements across the United States, as well as an increasing number of market participants, including names like Champignon Brands (CSE: SHRM), Hollister Biosciences (CSE: HOLL) and Revive Therapeutics (CSE: RVV).

Cannabis companies are joining the market, as are notable leaders from the marijuana space. Notable names include former Canopy Growth Corp CGC 3.12% CEO Bruce Linton, now a director for Toronto’s Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc (OTCMKTS: MMEDF) and chairman of the advisory board for Red Light Holland (CNSX: TRIP), a brand focused on truffles.

In June, Aurora Cannabis ACB 2.34% co-founder Terry Booth left his cannabis venture. In doing so, Booth has shifted attention towards psychedelics, investing in Red Light Holland. Booth also joined Psyched Wellness Corp.’s board in May.

What’s The Appeal Of Psychedelics?

Those who spoke to Benzinga for this article believe that the interest in the emerging space stems from creating a medical impact as well as cannabis regulatory frustrations.

Linton told Benzinga his interest in the market was two-fold.

One, the decision was driven by a belief that Linton could provide a more significant medical impact with psychedelic substances.

RELATED: Investors Are Jumping Into Psychedelics After Learning Hard Lessons In Cannabis Industry

The other reason “was cannabis had really stupid rules and policies around it for quite a long time,” said Linton, who prefers proper regulation over decriminalization.

Ronan Levy, executive chairman of psychedelics therapy company Field Trip, elaborated on cannabis and psychedelics’ regulatory appeal.

“For entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, with the regulatory, reputational and legal risks inherent to cannabis, one’s appetite for uncertainty has to be even greater,” said Levy.

He touched on why psychedelics have a clearer legal understanding than cannabis.

“The legal environment for psychedelics is much more transparent than cannabis, with psychedelics being driven by scientific and academic research seeking regulatory approvals, rather than grassroots political efforts as in the case of cannabis,” said Levy, noting how the situation allows for easier market participation.

Brain Imaging Study Looks Into CBD's Antipsychotic Effects
Photo by TheDigitalArtist via Pixabay

While not downplaying marijuana findings, Levy stated that psychedelics research is more persuasive due to a currently larger body of lab studies.

The executive chairman discussed the medical impact as well, positing that cannabis entrepreneurs have likely been inspired by seeing the change marijuana and psychedelics have had on patients.

“It would seem natural for cannabis entrepreneurs to see past the stigma of psychedelics to the potential for creating real, meaningful impact and change,” Levy said.

What To Consider

Operators and company leaders tend to agree that the psychedelics demographic could equal or surpass the wide stretch of cannabis and stated that the segment is just taking shape.

“I don’t think there’s a specific demographic that can benefit but more-so specific ailments that we know these substances can be effective for,” said Josh Bartch, president and CEO of Mydecine Innovations Group Inc (CNSX: MYCO).

RELATED: Michael Pollan Praises Psychedelics In His Book, But Cautions Against Widespread Psychedelic Reform

Bartch, who said his company considers consumers patients, said those receiving treatment could include those with terminal illnesses as well as those living with PTSD.

With such a wide range of potential patients, psychedelics operators believe the market is just picking up, with a lot to learn and more coming.

“Even though there is an incredible amount of excitement today, the game hasn’t even started yet,” said Field Trip’s Levy.

Noting that regulations are still largely uncertain, like cannabis, Levy advised, “Make sure that whatever business opportunity you are pursuing in psychedelics, that you are playing the long game.”

Mydecine’s Bartch noted that a wide range of treatments could create confusion for newcomers. Offering up a solution, the president and CEO said, “Make sure you have a specific focus on what you’re ultimately trying to accomplish.”

Bartch added, “Evaluate the other players in the space that are also trying to accomplish that or similar goals and make sure that your team drastically outperforms them.”

This article was reposted with permission from Benzinga.

How To Consume Weed Discreetly When Living With Others

 For many of us, trying to keep a semblance of normalcy during these times includes smoking marijuana. Here’s how to do it in private when you don’t live alone.

The past several months have been a slow but steady stream of change. While many were fortunate enough to be able to work from home, a large number of people have had to find new job opportunities, find new housing and even relocate across states. No matter what your situation is, it’s been a weird year, with most of us spending more time indoors, because, what else are we going to do?

While our lives might be completely different in ways that no one could have imagined just five months ago, we still have to make the most of our situations and try to keep a semblance of normalcy. For a lot of people that includes weed, whether they’re using it to treat their migraines, to sleep better or to wind down after a stressful day.

Here are some options that could make it easier for you to get high, whether you’re living with nosy roommates or spending some time with family.

Wait until the time is right

How To Make It Through Self-Isolation With Kids Or Roommates
Photo by Parker Gibbons via Unsplash

RELATED: How 5 People Cover Up The Smell Of Marijuana

Even in a pandemic there are plenty of opportunities for alone time. Take advantage of each moment you have to yourself, like when your roommates or parents leave for work, or go out to visit friends. In order to hide the evidence of your smoke sesh, be smart by keeping your weed stashed in a sealed glass container and opening up the windows. If you’re short on time or don’t have many windows, use a sploof or purchase a smoke buddy. The bathroom is always a great option for smoking for brief amounts of time, especially if you turn on the shower and allow for the steam to dilute the weed smoke.

Go outside

The most obvious thing you can do is to leave your house and get high someplace where you can be alone. Be mindful of others and obey the laws of your state. While this isn’t a full time solution, adding weed to your walks and times of escape can be a healthy way of getting some much needed alone time.

Keep in mind that you’re gonna have to come back to your place and face whoever you’re living with. Carry some gum and perfume, but don’t go overboard, since that might make things more obvious.

Switch to edibles

How To Get Edibles To Affect You Faster
Photo by Tree of Life Seeds via Pexels

RELATED: Weed Edibles Have Sold Really Well During The Pandemic

Edibles have been a pandemic hit, with many people giving them a shot due to the fact that they don’t harm the lungs, they’re convenient, and there’s not smoke or paraphernalia to deal with. Edibles can be consumed around other people without them knowing any better. Just monitor your dosage in case you don’t feel like pretending you’re not high when you very much are.

Practice your poker face

When using weed around parents or disapproving roommates, it’s always important to be discreet. Be mindful of other people’s space and make sure that your marijuana use isn’t an inconvenience for the rest of your household. Practice your poker face and relax as best as you can; most of the time, people are too busy to notice if your eyes are a little red and you’re acting a little giggly.

This Group Says Smoking Marijuana Is Not Good For You

The AHA found that smoking THC causes your heart to beat faster, demand more oxygen, and possibly cause a higher blood pressure when inactive.

A review of previous studies connecting heart health and smoking cannabis may cause you to reconsider your consumption habits. Conducted by the American Heart Association and published in the organization’s flagship journal Circulation, the review concluded vaping or smoking cannabis does not provide therapeutic benefits for your heart but possibly the opposite.

“The American Heart Association recommends that people not smoke or vape any substance, including cannabis products, because of the potential harm to the heart, lungs and blood vessels,” Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, the deputy chief science and medical officer for the American Heart Association, said in a statement.

The review coincides with similar recent papers that explored how smoking cannabis affects the heart. The AHA paper notes that smoking THC causes your heart to beat faster, demand more oxygen, and possibly cause a higher blood pressure when inactive. It adds that smoking can interfere with heart medications and possibly trigger cardiovascular events in people with pre-existing heart conditions.

RELATED: Why Marijuana Could Be Risky For Your Heart

A 2017 study, for example, found that smoking cannabis raised your risk of heart attack within that first hour of consumption. But as a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology noted as well, there is no definitive link between hearth health and smoking cannabis because observational, short-term studies constitute the majority of existing research.

One previous study did report that THC was present in 6% of all heart attack patients 50 and younger. Another found cannabis users between 18 and 45 were at higher risk of stroke than their peers who didn’t consume marijuana. But the AHA came to a similar conclusions in the JACC review.

“Unfortunately, most of the available data are short-term, observational and retrospective studies, which identify trends but do not prove cause and effect,” said clinical pharmacologist Robert Page II, who was chairman of the AHA writing group.

Here's What You Should Know About CBD & Heart Health
Photo by Robina Weermeijer

“Health care professionals need a greater understanding of the health implications of cannabis, which has the potential to interfere with prescribed medications and/or trigger cardiovascular conditions or events, such as heart attacks and strokes,” he added.

However, the AHA review added that CBD produced almost the inverse effects on the heart compared to THC’s impact. CBD, which does not produce the psychoactive “high” THC does, was associated with lower blood pressure, reduced heart rates, reduced inflammation, and increased the ability of the arteries to open.

RELATED: The Truth About CBD And COVID-19

In addition, the AHA specified these negative heart health effects caused by THC were from smoking or vaping. “Many consumers and health care professionals don’t realize that cannabis smoke contains components similar to tobacco smoke,” Page said. Regardless of THC content, smoking cannabis could increase concentrations of carbon monoxide in the blood five-fold and tar three-fold. Those effects strongly correlate to effects of smoking tobacco cigarettes.

“If people choose to use cannabis for its medicinal or recreational effects, the oral and topical forms, for which doses can be measured, may reduce some of the potential harms,” Page said. “It is also vitally important that people only use legal cannabis products because there are no controls on the quality or the contents of cannabis products sold on the street.”

Marijuana YouTube Channels Worth The Watch

Marijuana YouTube channels aren’t as popular as you’d think. Still, there are a few YouTubers who provide consistent, entertaining and informative content.

Marijuana is a growing industry and, as such, there’s a lot of content available on the internet. Weed enthusiasts have come up with websites, Instagram pages and Twitter accounts, all looking to find new and creative ways of engaging with marijuana. YouTube is a different matter entirely.

As a platform for monetization, YouTube is a challenging space for many different creators. In order to develop a following and make a profit, YouTubers need to find ways to avoid triggering the site’s filters which are meant to keep harmful content off the web.

YouTube has been called out for blocking the content of LGBTQ creators and other subjects that might be deemed inappropriate. When talking about weed, the channels that are out there are facing a complex battle against censors and viewers who consider their content inappropriate.

5 Soothing YouTube Channels To Watch When You're Feeling Too Stressed
Photo by mohamed mahmoud hassan via publicdomainpictures

Still, there are some marijuana YouTubers out there who have managed to make reliable and steady weed content, catering to people who have medical questions, want to learn how to plant and grow marijuana, or simply want to look at someone discuss their opinions on different strains of weed.

Here are 4 marijuana YouTube channels you should keep an eye on:

Strain Central

RELATED: 5 Soothing YouTube Channels To Watch When You’re Feeling Stressed

Strain Central is a YouTube channel developed with the purpose of educating people about cannabis and breaking outdated stereotypes. Josh, the host, differentiates himself from the rest by discussing his personal experiences with drugs and educating others on how to take tolerance breaks.

Jorge Cervantes

Jorge Cervantes is another online presence who’s published books and content on how to plant and grow weed efficiently. He’s published all sorts of articles on different websites. His videos are a digestible way of consuming complex content that can be hard to access for newbies.

Erick Khan

RELATED: 5 Quick Ways To Cope With Cannabis-Induced Anxiety

Erick Khan is one of the most informal YouTubers out there, and also one of the most consistent in terms of providing content. Khan has over 48 million views and posts a variety of videos that range from explaining the sudden vape illness that appeared last year, to his personal smoke sessions, which people for some reason enjoy viewing.

Mr. Canucks Grow

Mr. Canucks Grow is a channel based in Canada, providing educating and entertaining content on how to save money while you grow weed, growing it in awkward and dark spaces, open fields, and more.

National CBD Day Is Saturday

Among the most popular CBD products right now are edibles, with 33% of US consumers stating an increase in consumption when surveyed this past June.

Some holidays seem to roll around at just the right time, like my birthday when the last dregs of Christmas largesse are spent, Memorial Day when we need one last long weekend to get us through the school year before summer vacation, and now, National CBD Day on August 8th, just when the CBD market needs a boost from the deflating impacts of COVID-19.

In a July 2020 report by The Brightfield Group, data analysts projected that CBD sales for 2020 will only be up 14% from 2019 rather than the 30% originally projected due to impacts of the COVID crisis. Store closures, spiking unemployment, and inaction by the FDA are all contributing to a sluggish market.

The report also shows that nearly half of CBD consumers have moved their purchasing online due to coronavirus. CBD sales may be suffering due to the pandemic, but the surge in conditions triggered and exacerbated by the virus, such as anxiety (ranked the number one ailment of CBD users), depression (ranked second) and insomnia (ranked sixth) indicate that demand for CBD products will only increase as COVID-19 maintains its grip.

RELATED: The FDA Continues To Chase CBD Companies

Among the most popular products right now are edibles, with 33% of US consumers stating an increase in consumption when surveyed in June, with higher dosages reported among all products used. Vape products appear to be declining in popularity, however, due to negative media attention around inhalants and the increased likelihood that inhalant users will experience serious complications with COVID-19.

3 Ways COVID Is Hurting CBD Sales
Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/Getty Images

A surplus of hemp biomass is causing an overall price drop as well as hefty promotions and flash sales to incentivize consumers to sample the array of new products on the market, such as those with trendy ingredients like turmeric and ashwagandha as well as some lesser-known cannabinoids like CBG and CBN. Additionally, CBD companies are inundating the market with innovative products that go beyond the standard capsule and tincture delivery methods.

RELATED: How To Find High-Quality CBD Oil

One example is VCC Brands’ Subtle Tea, a vegan, keto-friendly way to refresh the body and rejuvenate the mind with flavors like Jasmine Green Tea with Lychee and White Peach Tea with Cardamom. Another is TOCA Botanicals TOTO CBD Lubricant, to inspire pleasure and relaxation of a more intimate variety. Humans aren’t the only species feeling the shaky vibes of the 2020 rollercoaster, which is why Harvey’s All Naturals introduced their  Harvey’s All Naturals Elixir for Pets to address pet stress and anxiety as well as pain and inflammation.

2020 has been a rocky year for the economy, but with the FDA inching closer to a clearer, more consistent regulatory framework and the demand for products that can ease the tensions of one of the most dramatic periods in recent history ever rising, the CBD industry is poised for a major rebound. And with new products hitting the market just in time for National CBD Day (and beyond), there just might be a CBD product out there for everything the Covid Era still has in store.

This article was reposted from Green Market Report with permission.

Global Pandemic Has Caused Legal Marijuana To ‘Cannibalize’ The Black Market

Worried about personal safety, illicit consumers have flocked to legal retailers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By year’s end the legal cannabis industry is expected to surpass $15 billion. But the money that marijuana generates on the black market far exceeds that amount. Tracking exact figures is trick because anonymous dealers and criminal networks aren’t exactly sharing sales data with the media. But estimates approximate that the illicit markets more than four times the size of its legal market.

More specifically, New Frontier Data values the United States illicit cannabis market is worth $70 billion. This same disparity exists in our neighbors to the north. Per Statistics Canada, less than 30% of Canadian cannabis users acquire their goods exclusively from licensed retailers.

RELATED: Dark Web Marijuana Sales Soar During Pandemic

Lawmakers and regulators and law enforcement have struggled to establish combative measures against this illicit market. But the global pandemic has caused the legal market to “cannibalize” the black market, recently wrote Mitch Baruchowitz, the managing partner at cannabis firm Merida Capital Partners. Consumers who previously opted for cheaper, unregulated goods have now prioritized the cost of health and safety above all.

How The Marijuana Industry Is Battling The Black Market
Photo by RichVintage/Getty Images

“The vast majority of the current growth in the cannabis space is being driven by consumers transitioning from the black market to the legal market,” Baruchowitz wrote in a paper this May.

A Cowen and Co. survey back in April found marijuana use had reached an all-time high, with 33% of Americans saying they had used cannabis at some point in their life. Another poll conducted by Verilife dispensaries found that millennials and baby boomer cannabis users had consumed about 40% more marijuana since the pandemic started. Both generations also report spending $27 more per month on cannabis products, too.

RELATED: Can Marijuana Help Ease Coronavirus Anxiety?

“It’s understandable that people may be more hesitant to get their products from sources that are unregulated,” Kris Krane, CEO of multi-state operator 4Front Ventures, told Politico. “They may not want to go to their dealer’s house, or they may not want to have their dealer come into their house, at a time when people are social distancing and not supposed to be interacting with people that they don’t know.”

The numbers on this remain murky, because again black market operators aren’t exactly sharing losing profits caused by a global pandemic. But the rising legal cannabis industry, which is expected to employ more workers than there are computer programmers in the near future, should provide some indication.

The Truth About Marijuana And Bladder Cancer

While smoking any substance can harm the lungs, ingesting cannabis has been shown to correlate with lower rates of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer accounts for about 5% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. each year and kills more than 16,000 individuals annually. As with most diseases, the most significant risk factor is genetic history, but aging and cigarette smoking dramatically increase the risk as well. 

Here’s something interesting: While smoking any substance can harm the lungs, ingesting cannabis has been shown to correlate with a lower risk of bladder cancer. Not just compared with tobacco smokers, but even non-smokers. 

During an annual meeting of the American Urological Association in 2013, Dr. Anil Thomas found with his team of researchers at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center that cannabis smokers were 45% less likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than patients who did not smoke at all. While Dr. Thomas also made sure to emphasize that the study did not prove that marijuana smoking prevents bladder cancer, the research leads the way for others to replicate. 

RELATED: Combating An Overactive Bladder With THC And CBD

In 2017, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that the cannabinoid system played an integral role in bladder cancer’s malignancy, seeing that some cannabinoids seemed to lessen the tumor’s growth

Combating An Overactive Bladder With THC And CBD
Photo by Carlo107/Getty Images

Interestingly, cannabis has long been touted by natural homeopaths as a way to cleanse and detox the body, thereby flushing the bad and leaving the good. In her book, Coming Clean with Cannabis, recipes, and research is given to why individuals should add cannabis to their juicing regime. While marijuana certainly has been proven to create calm both inside the body and out, THC and CBD-inspired concoctions may be the next big medical fad to treat and prevent ailments including bladder cancer.

RELATED: Does Smoking Marijuana Decrease The Development Of Bladder Cancer?

One thing is for sure, with positive studies showing that cannabis lessens a cancer risk, it’s allowing more individuals to see the other side of the most debated drug. 

Senate Republicans Really Don’t Want SAFE Marijuana Banking, Or So They Say

Senate Republicans remain deeply divided on their party’s own coronavirus stimulus package, but the party line blames the holdup on cannabis.

America has not received a new round of coronavirus-related stimulus funding partly due to marijuana, according to Senate Republicans. The exact phrasing is more dramatic.

“right now, your unemployment insurance is being held hostage by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer,” @SenateGOP tweeted Monday. “what are they demanding? […] marijuana banking.”

Cannabis dispensaries remain a cash-only business as financial institutions fear that working with these companies could generate harsh penalties. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug and by accepting money from legal markets, financial institutions could technically receive federal drug and money laundering charges. The SAFE Banking Act, which the Democrats added to their stimulus bill, would protect banks and lenders from those possible federal prosecutions.

RELATED: Democrats Reject Marijuana Legalization For Official Party Platform

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has spoken out the loudest against cannabis since its introduction into the COVID-19 stimulus package. He attacked measures that would require research into creating more diverse ownership in legal cannabis businesses, which overwhelmingly feature white owners.

“Let me say that again, Democrats’ proposed coronavirus bill includes taxpayer-funded studies to measure diversity and inclusion among the people who profit off of marijuana,” McConnell said on the Senate floor last week.

federal marijuana banking measure blocked by senate committee
Photo by kevinjeon00/Getty Images

McConnell renewed his attack this week again House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who labeled cannabis a “therapy that has proven successful” amid the pandemic.

“Speaker Pelosi is still holding up this entire package over bizarre unrelated things like carveouts for the marijuana industry,” McConnell tweeted out Tuesday morning She even claimed to the press that pot is a proven COVID-19 therapy!

“I hope she’s shared this breakthrough with Dr. Fauci. Can we get serious yet?”

While cannabis is not a proven COVID-19 therapy, a preliminary study found that cannabis could play a unique role in preventing the spread and severity of the coronavirus. In addition, a recent Israeli clinical trial noted that a combination of cannabis terpenes and CBD was four times as effective at reducing COVD-19 inflammation than leading steroid treatments.

Division on the SAFE Banking Act has rankled the Senate GOP for the past year. Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican, has become a champion of cannabis reform and sponsored the banking bill. But he hasn’t been influential pushing any cannabis policies through the Senate.

RELATED: Nancy Pelosi Calls Cannabis ‘A Therapy That Has Proven Successful’ During Pandemic

The Senate Republicans Twitter account posted harsh critiques of the banking act when Democrats first attached it to the stimulus package in May. But those tweets were quickly deleted when Marijuana Moment journalist Tom Angell responded, “Paging @CoryGardner. Your party no longer cares about your reelection bid.”

That may be because some Senate Republicans worry more about their own re-election campaigns. According to American Banking, many GOP have distanced themselves from the bill fearing it would legitimize cannabis legalization in their constituents’ eyes. “For most Republicans, they don’t view this as something with a lot of political upside,” Ed Mills, a policy analyst at Raymond James, told American Banking when the bill was first introduced last year.

However, Senate Republicans remain deeply divided on their party’s own coronavirus stimulus package.

RELATED: Will Weed Sales Plummet When Enhanced Unemployment Benefits End?

“It’s a mess. I can’t figure out what this bill’s about,” said Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican. “They’re going to go negotiate with Pelosi. We have no idea what the final bill will be, and we’ll be the last to know.”

You Just Bought CBD Lotion — Now What?

CBD skincare products are so hot right now! But there are a few things you should know before slathering it on.

Cannabidiol (CBD) products are everywhere, from convenience stores to high-end retail shops. While there are a lot of CBD converts out there, there’s a large percentage of people who use CBD topicals without knowing what the compound is and what effects it produces.

The CBD found in lotions and creams has much of the same effect as it does when consumed orally. The compound treats pain and inflammation, making it a great addition to lotions and products that target chronic pain, muscle soreness or just general skincare. One of the biggest draws for people is that CBD topicals are a very low stakes way of getting to know a trendy compound without having to ingest it.

While you won’t get any of the stress and anxiety relieving properties of topicals, some scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests CBD can treat inflamed skin and muscles, lending itself for pain management, relaxation and the treatment of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

RELATED: 7 Ways To Add CBD To Your Wellness Routine

The 5 Most Common CBD Lotion Questions People Have Online
Photo by Laryssa Suaid via Pexels

Before you start using these products, you should keep a few things in mind. Since CBD is a relatively new compound (at least when it comes to its inclusion in so many of these new brands), you should always read the ingredient list and check that the product contains CBD and not hemp oil. Since the industry is so new, many brands are taking advantage of the misinformation that surrounds the compound. You should also read the ingredients list in order to make sure that there are no harmful agents present or compounds that you might be allergic to.

RELATED: Can CBD Help With Anti-Aging? Here’s What You Need To Know

In order to avoid purchasing a product that could harm you or that simply produces no effects, look for products that have Certificates of Analysis (COA), which basically ensures that you’re buying a thoroughly tested product.

If you’re nervous when using your CBD product for the first time, do a spot test. Apply the product to a small patch of skin and check for rashes, itchy skin or any type of reactions you might have to the product (which is useful advice for anyone who has sensitive skin, no matter the kind of product you purchased).

You may feel the effects of the CBD within 10 minutes or so after application, though everyone is different. It also depends on what product you’re using and your dosage. Because of all of these variants, it’s important to be patient and consistent. If you like the product and don’t have any adverse reactions to it, use it for a couple of weeks to make sure it’s a good fit for you — just like with any new product.

Beer Distributor Adds Hemp Beverage To Lineup

The hemp-infused beverage market is expected to reach $2.8B by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 18%.

Arkansas-based beer distributor Premium Brands of Northwest Arkansas is adding a hemp beverage to its lineup. Premium Brands currently have distribution agreements with MillerCoors (NYSE:TAP), Corona (NYSE:STZ), Yuengling, Pabst Brewing, Boston Beer, Mike’s, Seagram’s, and Heineken USA to name a few.

Good Hemp, Inc. (OTC: GHMP) makes Good Hemp Fizz and CannaHemp beverages, which is a line of naturally flavored waters infused with 10mg of THC-free hemp extract and prebiotic fiber. The company says that unlike other hemp-infused beverages that contain CBD, its products are made with hemp seed oil which is categorized as “GRAS” (under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and therefore not subject to FDA review and approval).

“Hemp Infused beverages is a growing category, and we are excited to add a solid brand like Good Hemp Fizz and CannaHemp to our non-alcoholic portfolio,” said Heath Sutherlin, GM at Premium Brands. Sutherlin continued, “We look forward to working with the Good Hemp reps for a strong Labor Day rollout and building a long-term successful partnership in the territory.”

RELATED: Hemp: Marijuana Or Not Marijuana?

Premium Brands will distribute Good Hemp Fizz and CannaHemp throughout 11 counties in northwest Arkansas servicing approximately 900 C-stores, grocers, and liquor stores.

 

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Which do you grab to start your day?

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Beverage Market

Mazakali wrote a white paper on cannabis drinks and it stated, “Infused drinkables currently hold a market share of under 1% in the US, a figure that is far too low when compared with industry estimates for a $2.8 billion global cannabis beverage market by 2025. Advances in cannabis science along with the thirst for a healthier alternative to alcohol are but two factors behind this anticipated growth.”

The market is being flooded with hemp drinks of all sorts these days. The hemp-infused beverage market is expected to reach $2.8B by 2025 with a CAGR of 18%.

RELATED: Cannabis Beverage Market To Hit $1.82B By Year’s End

Constellation Brands had been expected to create its own line of cannabis drinks with its investment in Canopy Growth. Its current slate of drinks includes a Houseplant-branded Grapefruit beverage with 2.5 milligrams of THC, Tweed’s Bakerstreet & Ginger and Houndstooth & Soda drinks containing 2 milligrams THC as well as a high-potency Deep Space cola with 10 milligrams of THC, the maximum under Canadian regulations.

“We are excited to add Premium Brands to our distribution network,” said Rise’ Meguiar, VP Sales and Innovation at Good Hemp. “They are a well-established distributor in NW AR, and by adding them to our network, our products will now be widely available across the northern part of the state.”

This article from Green Market Report was reposted with permission.

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