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Big Alcohol prepares to fight back as buzzy cannabis drinks steal sales
Big Alcohol prepares to fight back as buzzy cannabis drinks steal sales

CTV News

time11 minutes ago

  • Business
  • CTV News

Big Alcohol prepares to fight back as buzzy cannabis drinks steal sales

A marijuana plant awaits judging in the Oregon Cannabis Growers' Fair marijuana plant competition in Salem, Ore. on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP / Gillian Flaccus) NEW YORK — Top alcohol makers have been sitting on the sidelines of a cannabis beverage boom, watching brands in the fast-growing category like Cann and Wynk make deals with beer and booze distributors, and gain valuable space on liquor store shelves. Now some alcohol companies, seeing their sales falter, are laying the groundwork to potentially enter the lucrative but risky market, a dozen founders of cannabis brands, ingredients suppliers and drinks manufacturers told Reuters. Drinks containing THC, the mood-altering ingredient in marijuana, are restricted to licensed dispensaries in 24 U.S. states where recreational use of pot is legal. But small amounts of THC can also be extracted from hemp, a crop that's related to marijuana but is legal federally. Beverages containing THC derived from hemp can be sold in many liquor shops, convenience stores and supermarkets. That's where Big Alcohol sees opportunity, despite some companies having been burned by past cannabis investments. Corona brewer Constellation Brands has been internally researching hemp-based cannabis drinks to weigh its next steps, a source familiar with the company's thinking said. Absolut vodka distiller Pernod Ricard has met with Brez, maker of drinks with THC derived from hemp, as recently as last month to discuss a possible investment, Brez's founder Aaron Nosbisch said. 'They did not invest now but are circling,' Nosbisch said. Pernod declined to comment on the meeting. Constellation Brands said it does not comment on rumors and speculation. Alcohol makers are still suffering a hangover following America's pandemic drinking binge, when sales spiked as cash-flush consumers splurged on pricey bottles of liquor for their homes, and then rushed back to bars when lockdown restrictions lifted. Alcohol sales have been falling ever since as inflation and interest rates rose and wallets became stretched. The companies also now face growing warnings from public health authorities who say drinking even small amounts of alcohol is associated with at least seven types of cancer. Overall U.S. beer volumes fell nearly six per cent through May of this year, according to the Beer Institute. Volumes of spirits and wine sold in the same time period have declined by 5.6 and 9 per cent, respectively, according to the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. In a sign of tumult in the industry, the CEO of the world's biggest alcohol maker, Diageo, stepped down last week as the company struggles to revive growth. But hemp-based drinks are expanding fast. The market for drinks infused with THC from hemp is projected to top US$1 billion in sales this year, according to market research firm Euromonitor, and climb past US$4 billion in 2028. Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley told Reuters in January he'd be naive to say THC beverages aren't having an effect 'at least in a small way.' Tilray Brands, the fourth-largest U.S. craft brewer with brands including Montauk and Shock Top, is selling its new hemp-derived THC seltzers through its beer distributors such as United Distributors in Georgia, executives told Reuters in an interview. The company's THC drinks are for sale in 13 states. 'There's not a real leader that's taken ahold of the (market) so far, and that's what we look to do,' Tilray's CEO Irwin Simon told Reuters earlier this year. Others, including Heineken's Lagunitas brand and Pabst Blue Ribbon, the fifth-largest U.S. brewer, have lent their names to THC seltzers for sale in dispensaries in California. Lagunitas is looking to grow distribution of its THC seltzer, potentially using hemp, to other states, a representative from Cannacraft, its ingredient supplier, said. A spokesperson for Lagunitas said it has no immediate plans to expand, but monitors market development and looks for opportunities as consumer tastes and regulations change. Boston Beer, the maker of Sam Adams, is one of the brewers with the clearest path to eventually enter the U.S. cannabis drinks market although it has not provided a time frame for doing so. The company is already selling its Teapot brand of THC-infused tea in Canada where weed is legal, and in the last year tested a potential U.S. version made from THC derived from hemp. To test the reformulated product, a panel of trained sensory experts sampled Teapot with both THC from hemp and marijuana, and could not taste a difference, said the company's head of cannabis, Paul Weaver. 'This is a source of growth for our organization, flat out,' Weaver said. Cautious moves Big Alcohol is treading carefully in cannabis drinks because state and federal regulations have shifted, and could change again, said five executives at ingredients suppliers and THC beverage brands. California, which has legal weed, banned hemp-based drinks last year to try to prevent children from consuming them. Other states have introduced special taxes or restricted sales, ambiguity that has held alcohol companies back from entering the market. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who helped first legalize hemp in 2018 to support farmers in his home state of Kentucky, in July introduced a provision in a government spending bill that could ban intoxicating products using the plant. McConnell wrote in an op-ed published in the Louisville Courier Journal on July 17 that his efforts are aimed at keeping THC gummies that look like familiar candies out of the hands of children. He did not provide comment beyond the op-ed. Big brewers have been burned by past cannabis investments. In 2022, the biggest U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch inBev exited a deal with Tilray to research cannabis drinks in Canada. The same year, Molson Coors shuttered its U.S. business selling beverages infused with CBD, a compound in marijuana and hemp that does not have psychoactive effects, citing an uncertain regulatory environment. Constellation Brands restructured its investment in Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth last year after poor sales. Now, however, hemp-based THC drinks are sold widely. Beyond beer's declining sales, brewers face an additional squeeze from tariffs, which threaten to push up prices for imported drinks, and Hispanic consumers, who are staying home due to fears of U.S. immigration enforcement. High margins Liquor stores are embracing the buzzy beverages to boost their margins as the drinks, typically more expensive than a six-pack of beer, start to outsell other types of alcohol. Jon Halper, CEO of Minnesota liquor store chain Top Ten Liquors, told Reuters in June that THC beverages now make up 15 per cent of his business after the company introduced them two years ago. By next year, they could grow to rival wine, currently in the mid twenty percent of his sales, he said. The drinks take shelf space mostly from beer because they are in coolers, Halper said. The margins on cannabis beverages are higher than those for beer and spirits, helping his firm offset softening alcohol sales. Charleston, South Carolina-based Southern Horizon Logistics, a sister company of Budweiser distributor Southern Crown Partners, is now selling more hemp-based drinks than wine and spirits, said Justin Ashby, the company's chief administrative officer. Ryan Moses, CEO of Nashville, Tennessee-based beer, wine and spirits distributor Best Brands, said that growth from THC-infused drinks has helped offset flat and declining alcohol sales. Instead of possible layoffs, Moses has been able to re-allocate employees to the new category. 'It could be as big as the other categories five to 10 years from now,' Moses said. Consumers like Josh Goldberg, 39, of Lindenhurst, New York, are also trading out beer and tequila for THC seltzers. Goldberg made the switch almost two years ago, and hasn't had a drink since. 'It replaces the physical act of drinking with drinking something else,' Goldberg said. Halper, the owner of Minnesota liquor stores, said the customers buying THC-infused drinks tend to skew female and over the age of 35. 'The soccer mom has really embraced the category in a big way,' Halper said. --- Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York and Emma Rumney in London. Editing by Lisa Jucca and Michael Learmonth

Why Is Medical Cannabis Missing From Med School Curriculum?
Why Is Medical Cannabis Missing From Med School Curriculum?

Medscape

time2 hours ago

  • Health
  • Medscape

Why Is Medical Cannabis Missing From Med School Curriculum?

At last count, 48 US states, Washington DC, and 3 territories have legalized cannabis for medical/therapeutic purposes, and 24 for adult recreational use. In 2020, at least 8.3 million Americans acknowledged using medical cannabis; many of the same patients also reported mixed (ie, medicinal/recreational) use. Clinical education has not caught up. There are 19 cannabis education certificate and/or master's level programs offered in colleges, universities, and graduate schools in 14 US states, meaning that only about one third of the 48 states that have legalized medicinal cannabis have some sort of college or graduate-level curriculum to support patients. The dearth of cannabis education has also left a large percentage of the more than 1 million practicing physicians in the US — and concurrently, most future prescribers — without a framework to leverage what has the potential to become one of the most important tools at their disposal. Leah Sera, PharmD, is associate professor and the inaugural program director of the nation's first Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program at the University of Maryland (UMD) School of Pharmacy in Baltimore. Sera explained the impetus behind UMD's program (which launched in August 2019) was the concerns voiced by health professionals; not only were they not learning about cannabis medicine and the endocannabinoid system in academic programs, but more importantly, they lacked the knowledge to help patients coming to them with questions. 'I think that it's important for health professional educational programs to incorporate cannabis medicine into their curricula so that when we graduate new generations of healthcare providers, they're better equipped to really engage with a public who clearly wants more information — both to keep them safe and help improve their lives,' she said. Medical literature has underscored that medical students feel the same. A 2019 survey of medical school students indicated that although participants expressed mixed feelings about medicinal cannabis, the majority said they lacked adequate knowledge about its therapeutic applications, research, and science and instead relied on anecdotal evidence and social media for information. The Endocannabinoid System Arguably, politics have played a large role in slowing broad acceptance of the medicinal benefits of cannabis (eg, fearmongering, the war on drugs), and it is still considered a Schedule 1 drug. These factors are also believed to have contributed to the lack of inclusion in medical school curriculum. 'What it means for cannabis to be a Schedule 1 substance is that the federal government says that cannabis does not have a currently accepted medical use and the highest risk of abuse,' said Sera. 'Although there's been a lot of cannabis research both within and outside the US, it's very difficult to do gold standard randomized, controlled trials with any Schedule 1 drug.' 'Until very recently (and it may be occurring still), a lot of medical and nursing programs taught that cannabis is bad, has no therapeutic benefits, and it's highly addictive,' added Nishi Whiteley, cofounder and chief operating officer of CReDO Science, a science and research organization geared toward education, cannabis product optimization, and clinical consultation. 'There's been an active campaign to malign cannabis, which is an enormous disservice to the patient and to the medical professional who needs to have more tools in their toolbox,' she said. Despite these challenges, decades of scientific research have consistently shown that the endocannabinoid system helps modulate a wide range of physiologic processes (eg, pain, inflammation, mood, metabolism, and neuroprotection) through its interaction with the major systems in the body, including the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems and digestive symptoms. This is a key reason why cannabis researchers and specialists have argued for its inclusion within medical education programs. 'Every place we've looked, in whatever physiological system, the endocannabinoid system has a role as a homeostatic regulator,' said Ethan Russo, MD, a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher, and cofounder/CEO of CReDO Science. 'We now understand that there are endogenous cannabinoids that are similar in structure to what we see in cannabis,' said Reggie Gaudino, PhD, a molecular geneticist and director of the Cannabis Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. 'The endocannabinoid system is like the one ring to rule them all,' he said. 'It interacts through all other biochemical pathways and systems in the body to help keep our different processes in balance. Without understanding that system, we create other problems.' Just the Basics These cannabis experts said that at the very least, practicing and future prescribers need a foundational education that might include an overview of the endocannabinoid system, how it applies to disease processes, and its major components. 'The endocannabinoid system is a good starting point; it's how we are used to learning about medications and how biological systems are altered from disease or medication or other treatments,' said Sera. She explained that this provides a foundation for discussions about the pharmacology of cannabinoids — chemicals within the cannabis plant that have biologic activity in humans and other animals — and how they interact with the endocannabinoid system to produce downstream effects on other organs. Sera also said that it is important for future prescribers to learn how to interpret different types of medical literature and cannabis studies despite methodological concerns that have plagued the industry and the lack of studies on specific products available in medical dispensaries. The same is true for counteracting cannabis hysteria in mainstream media every time a new study comes out, said Russo. 'Medical students need to be aware that real issues can arise with cannabis and its potential abuse, which does happen,' he explained. 'But the other side of the coin is therapeutics, which is quite distinct in terms of intent and dosages, ie, there's a distinction between a small dose for therapeutic purposes and a large dose that may produce harm.' Importantly, this fact has often been overlooked in alarmist headlines and stories that have gained the most traction. Bridging the Gap Today, the gap between educational needs and educational reality is large. To address this, Russo and Whiteley said they developed an online, 40-hour advanced medical cannabis certificate program for practicing clinicians. For professionals interested in learning how to address patient questions in an informed manner, they also created a Foundations of Cannabis Therapeutics course. Though future prescribers can certainly benefit from these sorts of online foundational courses, the dearth of cannabis education within medical schools has left a large knowledge and practice deficit. Dustin Sulak, DO, an integrative medicine specialist, cannabis expert, and founder of Intergr8 Health and a medical cannabis education resource in Falmouth, Maine, considers cannabis medicine revolutionary in that it actually alters the way the medicine is practiced. 'Cannabis medicine is a paradigm shift away from single-molecule interventions that have single physiologic targets toward more complex botanical treatments that target many things in the body — most of all, interfacing with the endocannabinoid system,' said Sulak. He used the example of managing pain, sleep, spasticity, and depression all at the same time with the same treatment. 'For any field of medicine to fail to take into consideration the role of the endocannabinoid system in pathophysiology is a shortcoming and a missed opportunity for interventions that improve symptoms and potentially, a cure,' he said. There is a broader paradigm shift that's needed, one that requires a new mindset, especially within the medical education and practice arena. 'I think of myself as a patient advocate, not a cannabis advocate,' said Sera. 'Cannabis is a potentially powerful tool for some patients that can improve their lives; it's not about the plant itself.' Russo is chief medical officer for Indira Pharmaceuticals and receives advisory fees from Carnada. Sulak is equity owner of Whiteley, Gaudino, and Sera reported having no relevant financial relationships.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term

BBC News

time3 hours ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term

Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport. Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a "severe lack of class" after signing him on club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to "strict" license conditions. The £600,000 haul of cannabis imported to the UK from Thailand was spread across four suitcases, and 60kg (132lb) of the Class B drug was seized at Stansted on 2 footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his was released from prison with "strict conditions", the MoJ told the BBC, including an electronically monitored curfew. Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was "delighted" to have him on board."Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium," it said in a it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four yearsThe club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling user on X said "signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical", while another suggested it showed a "severe lack of class".But others said it was a "good signing" and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a "phenomenal player". In a post-match interview on AFC Totton's X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as "a nice kid"."We had a phone call earlier in the week and, remembering Jay as a kid, he was an exceptional talent," Ball said."He's still got the hunger, he's still got the desire. He's a real physical presence with real good technical ability as well. "[He is a] nice kid and we're excited to have him here."Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons and Gillingham, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the "professional footballer who threw it all away"."It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer; you will be known as a criminal," he added. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.

British mother, 21, is charged with drug trafficking in Germany after 'being caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand'
British mother, 21, is charged with drug trafficking in Germany after 'being caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand'

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

British mother, 21, is charged with drug trafficking in Germany after 'being caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand'

A British mother has been charged with trafficking drugs into Germany after being caught allegedly smuggling cannabis from Thailand. Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth in Hertfordshire, was arrested at Munich Airport on April 22 when she attempted to collect her luggage. Authorities had become suspicious after she allegedly changed her flight at the last minute, having originally been due to fly to London Heathrow via Singapore. Her family had filed a missing person report after raising concerns when she did not return home as expected, but then learned the next day she was in Germany. Miss Bradford was arrested and held in custody - and has now been charged with attempted transit of cannabis and abetting the international trafficking of cannabis. The mother, who has a young son, is set to make an appearance at a hearing in Munich District Court on August 6 as authorities continue to investigate. Miss Bradford's arrest is one of a series of cases involving suspected young British female drug mules stopped by police at airports in countries around the world. Following her arrest, Munich chief prosecutor Anne Leiding said: 'We can confirm that we are conducting proceedings in this matter. The defendant is still in custody.' And a Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting a British woman who is detained in Germany and are in contact with her family and the local authorities.' Germany legalised cannabis for recreational use by adults in February 2024, but this did not extend to tourists - and the unauthorised import of the drug is illegal. Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, but last month brought in new rules which restrict the sale of the drug to those with a doctor's prescription. A UK Border Force and Thai customs agreement called Operation Chaophraya which aims to reduce attempted cannabis smuggling was launched in July last year. The Home Office said in April that the scheme was working after cannabis arrivals by post from Thailand dropped by 90 per cent in the first three months of 2025. Parcels from Thailand must now be checked before they are shipped – and over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling since the operation began. MailOnline contacted the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office and the UK's Foreign Office for comment today. Separately, MailOnline revealed today that a British mother was arrested in Mauritius accused of trying to smuggle cannabis inside her six-year-old son's suitcase. Natashia Artug, 35, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was detained alongside seven other people accused of carrying more than 161kg of the drug - worth £1.6million - in their luggage. The boy's luggage alone is said to have had 24 packages of drugs wrapped in clear cellophane inside weighing 14kg. Campaign group Justice Abroad claimed Ms Artug is 'vulnerable' and was coerced into travelling to Mauritius by people involved in the drug trade who threatened her and her family, adding that she did not know the bags contained cannabis. Miss Artug's partner Florian Lisman, a 38-year-old Romanian, was also arrested and said to be carrying 32 drug packages, an iPhone and £260. The other Britons detained were Patrick Lee Wilsdon, 22, Lily Watson, 20, Shannon Ellen Josie Holness 29, Laura Amy Kappen 28, and Shona Campbell, 32, who each had between 30 and 32 packages, according to local newspaper Le Mauricien. They were all on the same British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport last month. The suspects have all been charged with drug trafficking and remain in custody. A series of other cases in recent months have seen Brits arrested abroad for alleged drug smuggling. One of the most high profile involves 18-year-old Bella Culley, from Billingham in County Durham, who was arrested in Georgia in May after allegedly carrying 12kg of cannabis and 2kg of hashish into the country from Thailand, where she had been on holiday. Earlier this month her trial was postponed immediately after it began due to issues concerning evidence. She could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted, and her next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. Another case in May saw 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon in South London locked up in a Sri Lankan prison after police allegedly discovered 46kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase when she arrived on a flight from Thailand. The former cabin crew member for Tui was placed in handcuffs after £1.15million worth of cannabis was allegedly found in her luggage – and could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty. OnlyFans model Clara Wilson, 36, from Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, allegedly tried to smuggle around £200,000 of Thai cannabis into Spain - with more than 34kg of cannabis found in her suitcases at Barcelona's El Prat Airport. British beautician Kimberly Hall, 29, from Middlesbrough, is in custody in the US after being accused of attempting to smuggle $6.2million of cocaine from Chicago O' Hare Airport to the UK, having come off a flight from Cancun in Mexico. Robert Brown, 41, from Newcastle, was arrested in Cambodia last month after allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 20kg of marijuana into the UK - just hours after he was reported missing by his girlfriend. Police found 22 packages of cannabis weighing nearly 20kg hidden inside his luggage at Phnom Penh Airport. The drugs, which police believe originated in Thailand, are thought to have a street value of around £200,000. Brown has been charged with the use, possession, trafficking and transport of drugs and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. And 79-year-old William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, a bowls-loving pensioner from Somerset, faces dying in prison after he was allegedly intercepted at Santiago Airport in Chile with £200,000 worth of meth.

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