Could cannabis-infused beer make a good beverage product? This is what a recent study published in British Food Journal hopes to address as a researcher from the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UT-Knoxville) investigated how the legalization of cannabis and rise in nonalcoholic beers could lead to improving beverage products like cannabis-infused nonalcoholic drinks. This study has the potential to open doors for the commercialization of legalized cannabis in the food & beverage markets while tailoring to consumer preferences.
For the study, Dr. Aaron Staples, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, conducted a survey of 1,094 beer drinkers from the United States to evaluate their preference for cannabis-infused beverages. As part of the survey, the participants were asked to identify if they would drink cannabis-infused beverages along with noting the perceived taste, price, and safety of such products. In the end, between 53-56 percent of participants noted their openness to trying cannabis-infused beverages while also noting they expected six-packs of cannabis-infused beverages to be between $0.33 and $0.98 more expensive than traditional six-packs. The study noted the benefits of cannabis-infused beverages on the market.
“For example, THC-infused beverages could be marketed for recreational purposes (e.g. social environments) or as an alternative to alcohol consumption. CBD-infused beverages, on the other hand, are non-intoxicating and could be marketed to promote sleep or stress relief,” the study said.
Along with the benefits of marketing cannabis-infused beverages, the study also noted the upsides for policymakers and public health officials to recognize these benefits, as well.
What impact will cannabis-infused nonalcoholic drinks have on the consumer market in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: British Food Journal, Marijuana Moment
