In adult-format beverages, such as beer, wine, and cocktails, consumers have already
established understanding that these substances are available for purchase at existing
reputable licensed outlets, and with strict guidelines surrounding their sale, marketing, and
distribution. This also extends to their staff, who are well-educated that alcoholic beverages
are not intended for sale to persons under the legal drinking age.
With dosage, format, and delivery of great concern, beer, wine, and cocktail style beverages
are extremely well positioned to address any issues regarding accessibility by minors. Given
Health Canada’s mandate that no two stimulants may exist within the same beverage,
alcohol-free wines, cocktails, and beers make ideal conduits for cannabis beverages.
Cannabis beverage production can vary widely in its manufacture. It is expected that Health
Canada will define the maximum allowable dosage of the psychoactive ingredient THC, and
will also regulate the inclusion of non-psychoactive cannabinoids per serving. Yet some
producers will have difficulty consistently meeting these requirements.
For example, those who brew beer or produce wine using parts of the plant will find
predictable consistency of dosage extremely difficult, as the concentration of active
ingredients varies widely from plant to plant, even when using the exact same strains grown
in the same greenhouse. This variance can best be considered as similar to the terroir of
grapes, where vineyards quality output can vary greatly from one year to the next based on
the weather.
Only those with micro-dosing capabilities available through infusion will be able to reliably
manufacture consistent experiences for consumers to exacting standards from one batch to
the next. Consumers need to rely on licensed producers of edible products to feel confident
their consumption and intoxication experience will be predictable and reliable each time
they partake, and best manufacturing and quality practices must prevail.
By infusing cannabis into an alcohol-free beverage such as a wine, beer or cocktail format,
an existing consumer category now offers a tangible alternative to alcohol. Producers with
the capability to control cannabis dosages and comply with federal regulations should have
the ability to distribute these products as a harm-reduction strategy to alcohol.