Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at choosing cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, the rise of cannabis-infused beverages, new limits on what a police dog’s search can reveal and more. Enjoy.
Notable Numbers
This week’s first notable number is 73 percent. A new consumer survey from New Frontier Data revealed that that’s the percentage of those surveyed who now say that consuming cannabis is healthier than consuming alcohol.
The survey also explored the relationship between cannabis and alcohol consumption and the use of cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs.
Key survey findings included the following:
• Sixty-two percent of consumers said that when they have a choice between cannabis and alcohol, they choose cannabis.
• Fifty-seven percent said that they have replaced some of their drinking with cannabis.
• Forty percent said they would like to stop drinking completely.
• Among those who use cannabis for medical purposes, 51 percent say they have replaced at least some of their prescription medications with cannabis.
It should be noted that all of the respondents to the survey were already cannabis consumers. This means their opinion is informed by their experience.
Also, the fact that just over half of respondents are replacing “at least some of their prescription medications with cannabis” is the kind of response that begs for a follow up question.
For example, are they replacing medications with cannabis because it is more effective or because it is cheaper or for another reason?
Whatever the response, replacing medications, such as opioids, is a serious matter and should be done with the supervision of a physician, which underscores the need for more physicians to be trained to address the needs of cannabis consumers who are under their care so they can guide them toward making healthier choices.
Once again, the folks at New Frontier Data have done excellent work. To learn more about the current survey, which was published on January 21, 2025, simply click on the link below.
https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/making-healthier-choices-in-2025/?
The Shape of Things to Come
Bev.NET.com, a publication that covers the beverage industry, reports the hemp-derived THC drink market saw sales expand from $102M in 2023 to $382M in 2024.
Some say that part of that increase is due to a growing number of consumers who are observing a “Dry January” by replacing alcoholic beverages with potables that are made with hemp and contain THC.
So says Jake Bullock, the co-founder and CEO of Cann, a cannabis-infused beverage brand. He talked about his company and the role “Dry January” has played in building his customer base when he was interviewed by Cale Weissman, the editor and host of the Modern Retail podcast.
According to Bullock, his company, which usually sees its sales jump every January due to more people forgoing alcohol, is positioned at “the intersection of sober curiosity and cannabis curiosity.” He believes because of that, the brand can appeal to a customer who may not be comfortable going into a dispensary, but feels right at home in a bar or liquor store.
Said Bullock, “We’ve tried to brand this as “Cannuary,” which is our version of “Dry January,” and it’s a fun version. So, unlike being completely sober from everything, you just don’t drink booze and instead you can drink Cann. And so, that seems to be something that resonates with folks.”
Added Bullock, “We recognize our best customers drink alcohol, and many of them drink alcohol multiple times if not every day. And so what we’re helping them do is moderate that alcohol consumption to some degree. “
Recently, Bullock’s observation of a spike in the sales of cannabis-infused beverages during “Dry January” was reinforced for us by Arielle, the friendly and knowledgeable bartender at the Callicoon Brewing Company in Callicoon, New York.
A charming bar—with a statue of a cow on its second-floor porch—in a town with a population of about 3,000, it boasts a robust menu of up-scale pub fare and an impressive selection of spirits and craft brews that includes a number of hemp-based, THC-infused beverages, such as Cycling Frog and Trail Magic.
According to Arielle some of these products are stronger than others. The Cycling Frog, for instance, contains 10 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBD, while the Trail Magic version of an Arnold Palmer Iced Tea clocks in at 5 mg of THC.
Both Patsy, the establishment’s manager, and Arielle acknowledged that sales of the cannabis-based beverages have increased slightly in January, with some patrons purchasing the cannabis drinks so they can observe a “dry” month but still stay social.
In order to sell cannabis beverages, the Brewing Company had to secure a separate license from the state. While the license does not allow the bar to operate as a dispensary, it does entitle it to sell cannabis beverages that can be consumed on the premises or enjoyed later in the privacy of the customer’s own home.
We were impressed with the matter-of-fact manner in which the THC beverages were presented, as if it were no big thing and not as shocking as, say, dogs and cats living together or the rise of crypto. Alcoholic beverages and cannabis beverages being sold side by side is just another glimpse of the new world that is home to cannabis consumers and non-consumers alike.
To learn about Cann THC-Seltzer, “Dry January” and Cale Weissman’s Modern Retail podcast, simply click on the link that follows.
https://www.modernretail.co/operations/how-thc-infused-beverage-brand-cann-is-capitalizing-on-dry-january/
You can learn more about the Callicoon Brewing Company by clicking on this link.
New Product Showcase
A new hemp-based beverage makes it possible for consumers to turn any drink into a cannabis experience. That’s the claim of the makers of what they describe as an “alcohol-free beverage enhancer” that comes in three flavors—sweet, sour and a mix of the two—and can, so they say, be enjoyed straight, on the rocks, in a cocktail, a mocktail, or even your favorite beer.
The 50 ml bottle retails for $10. The 475 ml bottle goes for $70.
Because GoodTime is made from hemp that contains less than .03 percent THC it can be shipped to states that allow the sale of products under the 2018 Farm Bill. At this point, the company ships the product to all continental states in the US except the following: Idaho, Missouri, Massachusetts. Orders normally ship within 3-5 business days.
Thanks to Blurtsy Touriotte for sending this story our way.
To learn more, visit trygoodtime.com.
Cannabis and the Courts
Some police dogs in Florida may soon have less work. That’s because a Florida court of appeals has ruled that due to the growing popularity of legal cannabis and hemp products, the response of a police dog that has been trained to detect the presence of cannabis is no longer sufficient on its own to justify a vehicle search.
So says Graham Abbott, reporting for Ganjapreneur. According to Abbott, the News Service of Florida reported that the court ruled that because drug detection K9s used by police can’t distinguish between illegal cannabis products and legal products—such as medical marijuana or hemp products—a drug-sniffing dog’s response to the presence of drugs is not enough to justify a vehicle search.
Abbott noted the ruling was in response to an appeal filed in a case that involved a Lyft driver stopped by a police officer for speeding. The officer called in a K9 drug detection dog which signaled the presence of drugs in the car. Police searched the vehicle and found a variety of drugs including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. This led to the arrest of the Lyft driver’s passenger, Stephon Ford.
Ford argued in his appeal that the drugs detected by a dog trained to find cannabis should be inadmissible as evidence since it’s no longer clear if it is responding to the presence of an illegal substance.
In his opinion, Chief Judge James Edwards wrote, “Whether the substance Polo (the dog) smelled was legal or illegal was not readily apparent, and thus his alert, alone, could not provide the probable cause needed to justify a warrantless search.”
In his article, Abbott also points out that in a concurring opinion, Judge Jordan Pratt of the court wrote, “An alert by a dog trained not to alert to cannabis — or to alert to cannabis differently than it alerts to other drugs — can still on its own supply probable cause.”
As always, Greg Abbott’s reporting is clear, concise and on point. To learn more, we suggest reading his article in the January 10, 2025 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
Cannabis and Pain Management
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association revealed that legalizing medical cannabis (MML) appears to significantly reduce the monetary payments and other incentives opioid manufacturers make to doctors who specialize in pain.
So says Ben Adlin, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Adlin, the authors of the study say their work demonstrates that this decrease is due to medical marijuana becoming available as a “substitute” for prescription painkillers.
Adlin noted that the study, which was conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Florida, University of Southern California and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, looked at various financial incentives that opioid drugmakers provide to prescribing doctors—such as consulting fees and paid travel to conferences.
Said Wreetabrata Kar, an assistant professor of marketing in the SUNY Buffalo’s school of management who co-authored the study, “Our findings indicate that medical marijuana is increasingly viewed as a substitute for opioids in chronic pain treatment, with the potential to transform pain management practices and help mitigate the opioid crisis that has profoundly affected communities across the U.S. The availability of new pain management options can change the financial dynamics between drug companies and health care providers.”
In his article, Adlin points out that the study noted that annual prescription data shows a decrease in opioid prescriptions among states that legalized medical cannabis.
Adlin also reports that separate research published late last year also showed a decline in fatal opioid overdoses in jurisdictions where marijuana was legalized for adults.
Ben Adlin does an excellent job of capturing the important points of this and several other studies. To learn much more we urge you to read his article in the January 7, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
