Business
Jones Soda to Launch Cannabis-Infused Sodas in California
Jones Soda, a publicly traded beverage company that is best known for its craft soda, has launched a cannabis-infused product line comprising of sodas, syrups, and infused gummies. This new infused product line that has been dubbed “Mary Jones” is a first-of-a-kind as “stronger” rivals in the beverage sector aka Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola have shied away from the regulated cannabis market, in spite of showing interest.
So far, 37 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medical use. 18 states have legalized cannabis for adult-use, including California which legalized in November 2016 through voter initiative Proposition 64. In spite of having a very large illicit market for cannabis, the potential of the regulated market is huge, given the large population in California. In 2020, cannabis sales in the Golden State peaked at a staggering 4.4 billion dollars. The Mary Jones brand hopes to cash into this boom.
In the past, several influential beverage companies have showed interest in the cannabis beverage market. This includes Constellation (producers of Corona), Miller, Bud, Lagunitas, Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola. We recently interviewed Dan Grim, CEO of Good Stuff Beverages, who let us know that at least $4 billion dollars had been invested in the cannabis industry by some of these companies.
However, some of these companies have held back, watching to see if the federal government will reconsider its hard stance stand on cannabis which remains illegal at the federal level. Pepsi Cola recently launched a hemp-infused energy drink, preferring to steer clear of marijuana. On the other hand, the Mary Jones brand which will be launched on 1st April will feature low dose THC drinks with a light flavor. This first line will introduce infused sodas in 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans, infused syrups to be mixed with foods and beverages, and infused gummies that will have the shape of Jones Soda mini bottles.
