It is always good to get a sense of the potential for any company or product by asking a well-respected industry leader – almost a litmus test of your hypothesis which in this case is the market potential of infused beverages.
I was invited as a main stage panelist at the LIFT Expo in Toronto this past May representing the investors’ perspective. I had the opportunity to pose a question to another panelist, who is no stranger to the industry, Derek Riedle, CEO and Publisher, Civilized.
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Louis Kyron: Derek, while presenting at LIFT in Toronto, we discussed how beverages may be one of the main disruptor before long - for our readers, could you elaborate on the reasons as to why?
Derek Riedle: To me, the things that potential new cannabis consumers are most uneasy about are smoking and vaping. Joints will never go away, but combustion and vaping will be something for younger people and first-timers. Delivery methods where people can enjoy cannabis rapidly, conveniently and without smoke will flourish. It’s not the end of smoking, but it’s damn close. Smoking is going to become a subculture.
I think anything that allows people to enjoy cannabis without smoke - edibles, topicals, tinctures, drinks, etc. - will be extremely important going forward. Really, anything that leads to the end of smoke.