There’s nothing better than ending a long and stressful day with your favorite guilty pleasure.
And, if you’re like me, ice cream fits the bill. Half a pint after a bad day, (or a whole pint after a really bad day), really does seem to take the edge off of existence, at least momentarily.
But is it possible that one popular ice cream company could take this indulgence a little too far? Ben and Jerry’s has been waiting to find out the answer to this question for two years.
Ben & Jerry’s made a bold new flavor announcement back in May 2019 saying 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.
And there is big money out there for cannabis consumers.
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.
Researchers have suggested that the cannabis market could grow to over $28 billion within the next decade, particularly as the healthcare community continues to embrace compounds found within the plant for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
