Cannabis-flavoured ice cream anyone?

Ben & Jerry’s made a new flavor announcement for a groovy treat

Bloomberg
Published1 Jun 2021, 09:08 AM IST
Ben & Jerry’s CBD ice cream (benjerry.com)
Ben & Jerry’s CBD ice cream (benjerry.com)

Ben & Jerry’s made a bold new flavor announcement in May 2019: CBD ice cream was coming ... “as soon as it’s legalized at the federal level.”

Two years later, the “groovy” treat still isn’t available to the public, as snack makers continue to wait for a green light from U.S. officials for cannabis-infused foods. But as demand for edibles continues to rise and the market tops the billion-dollar mark, Big Food is getting ready.

With Covid in the U.S. winding down (fingers crossed), the Consumer Brands Association is bringing lobbying efforts for federal cannabis legislation back to its “front burner,” said Stacy Papadopoulos, the trade group’s general counsel. While small brands are forging ahead, big companies are seeking more clarity and remain hesitant due to the patchwork of state regulations and uncertainty about what types of products could be allowed, she said.

“Most of our large recognizable brands are sitting on the sidelines,” she said. “They don’t want to subject themselves to lawsuits or, even worse, that something they were doing in the space was not entirely safe for consumers.”

As a result, plenty of money is being left on the table. Even without the marketing might of big-name consumer companies, the edibles market in the U.S. grew 20% last year to $1.1 billion according to Surfside, a data analytics company specializing in cannabis.

That has left an opening for smaller brands, which are more willing to take on the risk that comes with products that aren’t federally approved, even if some state laws allow them. Some of the companies, which make gummies, baked goods, chocolates and other edibles, are positioning themselves as acquisition targets when federal regulation comes, said Michael Blanche, co-founder of Surfside.

Big companies will flood the market “the second you can do trade across state borders,” he said. For the small players that aren’t acquired, the competition will ramp up. “Over time, there is a huge threat there.”

If existing brands are edged out, that could disproportionately impact small-business owners as well as people of color, said David Weiner, co-founder of Gossamer, a cannabis lifestyle and media company. The cannabis space is already challenging for minorities, with less than 4% of companies having Black owners and under 2% with Latinx owners, according to data from Cannaclusive, which maintains the InclusiveBase, a list of businesses owned by people of color.

“Our fear around federal legalization is who’s being left behind,” Weiner said. “These people who never had skin in the game can come late and make a lot of money, leaving people who got us here holding the bag.”

Some companies are taking it in stride. The peculiarities of the cannabis market may give an advantage to those who have experience, regardless of size, said Jason Navarrete, chief executive officer and founder of Pure Craft CBD, a San Diego-based gummies maker.

Big companies “don’t understand the philosophy of this industry,” he said, adding that he doesn’t feel threatened. “They just look at bottom line.”


Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

MoreLess
First Published:1 Jun 2021, 09:08 AM IST
Business NewsLoungeFoodCannabis-flavoured ice cream anyone?

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Tata Steel share price

    150.90
    03:56 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -2.7 (-1.76%)

    Bharat Electronics share price

    300.20
    03:58 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -1.65 (-0.55%)

    Bank Of Baroda share price

    262.90
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    0.3 (0.11%)

    Indian Oil Corporation share price

    144.20
    03:59 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -0.45 (-0.31%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Apollo Hospitals Enterprise share price

    7,424.60
    03:40 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    454.75 (6.52%)

    Welspun Corp share price

    798.00
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    24.55 (3.17%)

    City Union Bank share price

    181.50
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    2 (1.11%)

    Federal Bank share price

    206.00
    03:57 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    1.2 (0.59%)
    More from 52 Week High

    Hindalco Industries share price

    648.35
    03:51 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -59.9 (-8.46%)

    Trent share price

    6,498.45
    03:59 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -454.6 (-6.54%)

    Glenmark Pharmaceuticals share price

    1,658.00
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -110.95 (-6.27%)

    Blue Star share price

    1,776.95
    03:56 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    -101.8 (-5.42%)
    More from Top Losers

    Swan Energy share price

    535.60
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    39.05 (7.86%)

    KEC International share price

    1,050.30
    03:40 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    74.8 (7.67%)

    Apollo Hospitals Enterprise share price

    7,424.60
    03:40 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    454.75 (6.52%)

    FSN E-Commerce Ventures share price

    192.90
    03:29 PM | 7 NOV 2024
    11.45 (6.31%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      78,575.00-1,790.00
      Chennai
      78,581.00-1,790.00
      Delhi
      78,733.00-1,790.00
      Kolkata
      78,585.00-1,790.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.92/L0.00
      Chennai
      100.80/L0.00
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.77/L0.00

      Popular in Lounge

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts