2018 will be remembered as the year the starting gun was fired for cannabis beverages as governments across the world loosened restrictions and companies got serious about investing in the category. Here’s a rundown of the top ten cannabis stories on just-drinks during a historic 12 months.
10. Hemp legalisation could propel PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Co into CBD – analyst
The US is on the verge of signing off a new bill to legalise industrial hemp that could see The Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo target the CDB category, an analyst has said.
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9. Brick Brewing in talks with cannabis firms over third-party beverage production – just-drinks EXCLUSIVE
Brick Brewing is considering ways to produce cannabis-infused beverages for other companies, the brewer has told just-drinks.
8. Blue Moon founder Keith Villa unveils psychoactive cannabis drink Ceria
A former Molson Coors brewmaster and the creator of the Blue Moon Belgian-style ale brand, Keith Villa, has launched a non-alcoholic beverage line that contains THC, the psychoactive chemical from cannabis.
7. Anheuser-Busch InBev rolls into the cannabis saloon but will caution see it miss high noon? – Comment
The world’s biggest brewer has entered the cannabis category but caution is the watchword as it navigates the new beverage frontier.
6. Why wine is dangerously exposed to the cannabis tidal wave – Comment
just-drinks’ regular wine commentator Chris Losh has been away this summer. While away, has he been smoking something? If he has, it’s given him something to warn the global wine category about.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
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By GlobalData5. Heineken’s in-house expert drives cannabis strategy – Comment
What do international brewers know about cannabis? Not very much, it seems.
4. Recreational cannabis use becomes legal in Canada
Canada has become the second country in the world to legalise the recreational use of cannabis.
3. Molson Coors joins Canada cannabis race with The Hydropothecary Corporation JV
Molson Coors has become the latest company to line up entry into the cannabis beverages market in Canada.
2. Constellation Brands ups Canopy Growth stake with US$4bn investment
Constellation Brands has significantly increased its stake in Canopy Growth, sinking a further US$4bn into the Canadian cannabis company.
1. The future of cannabis in the drinks industry – just-drinks FUTURES
The future of cannabis in the food and beverage industry will be worth billions. In fact, the continued legalisation of the drug for recreational use marks a defining point in the history of both sectors. This report offers a detailed look at what the market might look like, who the players and consumers will be – and what food and drinks companies need to do now.
