We’ve simply replaced some of the hops with hemp
Poison City Brewing has received backing and funding from a number of well known investors to enable them to launch the country’s first cannabis infused beer.
Poison City Brewing started selling a lager containing hemp — a variety of the cannabis sativa plant largely devoid of mind-altering ingredients — in major liquor chains in September, according to the company’s co-owner, Andre Schubert.
The launch comes shortly after the Constitutional Court effectively decriminalised the private use of cannabis in SA.
A 2017 study by Georgia State University found that alcohol sales had fallen 15% in US states where medicinal marijuana had been legalised.
In August, Constellation Brands, which makes Corona beers in the US, poured another $4bn into Canadian marijuana company Canopy Growth.
“Cannabis beers are becoming a massive worldwide trend … We’re setting a precedent for other breweries in SA by being the first to experiment with this ingredient here,” said Graeme Bird, co-owner and founder of the Durban-based Poison City Brewing.
“Hops and cannabis are very closely related and share many similar chemical characteristics, which means that hemp is an interesting and viable ingredient for beer-making,” Bird said.
The hemp had to be imported as it is currently not legal to grow in South Africa, the imported strains were from Germany and Eastern Europe and are certified to be below the THC thresholds.
It is hoped that the department of health, justice and constitutional development consider the changes to allow for the production of hemp
“The IFP believes … the commercialisation of hemp farming in the country could have vast economic and employment potential, and must therefore be unpacked, studied and piloted by the relevant departments and phased into our economy as soon as possible.”
Hemp fibres can be used to make industrial materials, fabrics and clothing.
Source – Business Day
Image – Poison City Brewery
