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Cannabis ice cream is becoming big in the U.S.
18 Aug 2021Hot summer days call for a cool scoop of ice cream, but for those that are interested in chilling out in more than just temperature, Boston-based ice cream brand Emack & Bolio’s has partnered with the multi-state cannabis operator MariMed to bring cannabis-infused ice cream to local consumers.
The duo said that it would create a menu of cannabis-infused vegan and dairy ice cream in “outrageous flavors.” However, what those flavors are still remains under wraps. Although the future flavors of this cannabis ice cream remain a mystery, Emack & Bolio did say in a statement that each variety will contain the same full spectrum of natural cannabinoids and terpenes from whole plants as are used in MariMed’s award-winning cannabis brands.
Currently, this launch appears to just be a fledgling idea. Not only are there no flavors yet announced, but the timeframe for this national product launch is still up in the air, although the ice cream company said in a statement that it expects to debut its cannabis ice cream in Massachusetts this year. Following the initial trial in Massachusetts, the team plans to launch its flavors in other cannabis-legal markets, which is a logical next step considering that MariMed Inc. is a multi-state cannabis operator.
What is particularly interesting about this product is the fashion in which the cream and the cannabis are churned. Instead of simply adding THC to the ice cream toward the end of the process, Forbes reported that the cold treat will be made by infusing the ice cream’s core ingredients with high-quality THC concentrates before the ingredients are even combined to undergo the freezing process.
Massachusetts has recently been at the forefront of cannabis ice cream. Earlier this summer another creamery jumped into the market and began selling its own THC-laden ice cream. Cloud Creamery became the first licensed creamery in the state and in celebration, it launched three flavors of THC-infused ice cream where each 8-ounce serving contains 5 mg of THC. In the future, it would not be surprising to see even more creameries introduce cannabis ice cream in a state where marijuana has been legal since 2016.
As more Americans find themselves in states where marijuana is legal – it is currently fully legal in 16 states and decriminalized in another 12 – the food and beverage industry has dramatically increased the number of products that are infused with both CBD and THC. According to Fortune Business Insights, The global cannabis beverages market size stood at $367.4 million Mn 2019 and is projected to reach $8,521.6 Mn by 2027, at a CAGR of 50.9% in the forecast period.
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