Iconic soft drink maker Coca-Cola is not interested in marijuana, but is looking at the growing market for "wellness" drinks infused with CBD, a marijuana ingredient |
NEW YORK
(AFP) - Coca-Cola said Monday it is studying the use of a key ingredient in marijuana
in "wellness beverages," as a growing number of mainstream companies
develop cannabis-infused drinks.
"We
have no interest in marijuana or cannabis," Coca-Cola said in a statement.
But iconic soft drink producer is "closely watching the growth of
non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) as an ingredient in functional wellness
beverages around the world."
Cannabidiol
is a chemical in marijuana that does not have the intoxicating effects of THC,
the major active ingredient that causes the "high." It has been used
to treat epilepsy and other maladies.
"The
space is evolving quickly," Coca-Cola said. "No decisions have been
made at this time."
Coca-Cola's
statement comes amid reports the company has held talks with Canada's Aurora
Cannabis to develop beverages. Some of Coca-Cola's trademark cola products have
struggled to grow sales in recent years due to health concerns.
Canada is
set to legalize cannabis on October 17 after both houses of Parliament voted to
make the drug available for recreational use.
That move
has been seen as a potential prelude to further legalization in the United
States, even though recreational use of marijuana is still only permitted in a
handful of states.
Beer giant
Molson Coors announced August 1 it was teaming up with Canadian medical
marijuana grower The Hydropothecary Corporation to develop cannabis-infused
non-alcoholic beverages.
Two weeks
later, spirits company Constellation Brands announced a new $4 billion in
investment in Canada's Canopy Growth in exchange for a 38 percent stake in
Canopy.
No comments:
Post a Comment