Some beer loving states are facing an uphill battle with marijuana
It is classic favorite of the public, beer holds a grip and is the favored intoxicant of those who imbibe. It is the most consumed alcohol in the world. In fact, after water and tea, beer is actually one of the most popular drinks in the world! According to reports, in the 2022 brewing year, global beer production ended up increasing slightly year-on-year by 1.3%. This translates to almost 50 BILLION gallons each year.
Data is clear cannabis is better than alcohol for many reasons. People die from alcohol overdoses. There has never been a fatal marijuana overdose. Yet, states who love beer are slow to weed. There are exceptions. If you are a beer distillery, you might have a good reason if you aren’t invested in marijuana. Gen Z is drifting away from alcohol and California has seen a decline specifically in beer sales, in part due ot legal marijuana.
The number one beer state is New Hampshire. The Granite States pops a cold one more often per capita than any other state. Yet, medical marijuana is legal, but recreational use remains illegal.
Montana is big sky country and enjoys a a beer while enjoying the magnificent views. Slow to the dance, the state has legal medical and recreational marijuana. Recreational use was legalized in 2020 with dispensaries opened in January 2022
Vermont folks, while they enjoy their beer, also are enjoying their bud. The Granite state legalized medical (2018) and recreational (2022) marijuana are legal. Vermonters beat to their own drum.
North Dakota state motto includes “Liberty and Union, now and forever”. But when it comes to marijuana, there is no liberty of choice. While medical marijuana is grudgingly legal, recreational use is against the law.
Maine has been a leader in how to roll out recreational weed, and it hasn’t had the downsides for beer. A well oiled machine can make winners of all industries.
South Dakota mirrors their neighbor to the north slowly allowing medical marijuana seeing recreational as a crime. Alcohol sales boom in the sparsely populated state.
Pennsylvania has the Philadelphia, the famed city of brotherly love, but they have no love for weed. Medical marijuana is legal, but recreational is not. Which is interesting considering the size of state and the potential tax revenue which could be generated for their budget.
Nevada believes what happen in Vegas, stays in Vegas…but the larger casino owners had to be dragged kicking and screaming into legalizing both medical and recreational. Now it has the largest dispensary in Planet 13 and soon will have Cannabition, the revolutionary marijuana immersive experience.
Hawaii allows servers to serve customers providing they are 18 years of age and if a supervisor 21 or older is present. But weed is a big no no. The state with an amazing international tourism base only has legal medical marijuana.
Wisconsin the top most popular beer state has is also one of hte few state to not allow medical or recreational marijuana.
Only 4 of the 10 of the most beer love states allow recreational marijuana. Some of the other smaller states which legalized weed have not seen an impact on beer, which is another case of live and let live.
If you’re a cocktail drinker in Denver, you’ve likely tried a libation with a dash of creativity from Alex Jump and Stuart Jensen.
Jump spent four years as the bar manager for Death & Co. in Denver before starting a consulting business and emerging as a leader in the low- and non-alcoholic beverage movement. Jensen is co-owner of local drinkeries Curio and Roger’s Liquid Oasis, and was part of the ownership group at the now-defunct Brass Tacks in LoDo.
Together Jump and Jensen, who got married earlier this year, are a cocktail power couple shaking up the local scene, and in 2025, they’ll debut their first concept together.
The first part of the is filled with work, to-do things and prepping for 5 days of jobs stuff. Going into the work week, some people experience sadness, anxiety, or lack of motivation which can be a routine, which is not healthy. While Boomers and Gen X were raised in a world with fewer life options and work was just a thing you had to do, younger Millennials and Gen Z’ers were given a somewhat different take. Gap Years, working abroad, flex schedules and work at home gave them an option to craft a work environment suited to their needs. But as that falls away, stress and anxiety have increased. Some 39% of Gen Z feel regular anxiety. And roughly half of Gen Zs (52%) and millennials (49%) feel burned out by their job. So what are the best ways to make the first part of the week positive?
Weekends are made for fun, indulgences and treats. Each week decide Monday or Tuesday will be fun or favorite food night. It can be something easy like Sloppy Joes, a speciality salad, a great steak, but something to look forward to and enjoy. Also, make it something easy but transforms Tuesday into something special. Food also releases mood-boosting serotonin and dopamine, which can brighten the earlier part of the week. Food especially rich in those two include fish, grains, lean meats, olive oil and fruits and vegetables.
Swap beer for marijuana
All studies show marijuana is healthier for the body than beer. Fewer calories, less boating, no hangover. While California Sober has become a thing, more people are drinking less beer Monday-Wednesday and just having a couple of hits of a vape or a gummy. They get the chill without the extra weight or hangover. Canada did a study on the trend, but ultimately it helps you maintain energy for the rest of the week.
Plan something fun
Everyone looks forward to the weekend as a chance to relax and do fun things. Why not put Monday or Tuesday night as a special activity night. Anything from bing watch 3 favorite shows, trying a new video game, a long soak in the tub, or an early dinner with friend. Transform Monday or Tuesday into “Fun Day” by either planning or spontaneously doing something enjoyable for 1-3 hours?
Think about reversing the weekend sleeping in to sleeping early. Think about listening to calming music, read a book and just soak up snuggling in the bed. Avoid your phone and just relax and allow your body to unwind for a solid night’s rest.
Hopefully these tips will transform the first part of the week into a self care enjoyable time…and give you the energy and a positive outlook for the rest of the week.
Cannabis is popular, but not nearly as popular as its cousin, which is a global powerhouse.
Cannabis has been around for thousands of years, but its similarly aged cousin is still more popular on a global level. You might think Coco-Cola was popular when it had a more active coca component, but it is not the OG version of fun. Cannabis is related to hops, which is a base for most beer. This biggest clue to their relationship is in the smell. You can tell since they both have a bit of a dank aroma.
While marijuana is becoming widely accepted, it has a ways to go to be as popular as its cousin. Globally, when you look at the beverages we consume, most North Americans would be surprised. Water, followed by tea are the top two drinks in the world. Surprisingly, beer is the third…making hops valuable and highly consumed. Coffee, is the fourth most drank beverage.
Hops comes from the plant humulus lupulus and marijuana comes from the cannabis plant. Both are parts of the relatively small family of Cannabaceae. They basically are cousins, sharing a key ingredient called terpenesans. Cannabis contain terpenes and terpenoids; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a terpenoid. Hops lack the enzyme which could convert cannabigerolic acid into THC or CBD. While THC is what makes you high, hops doesn’t contribute to the alcohol content of beer, but rather the weight and flavoring. On its own, hops has been used for anxiety, sleep disorders, restlessness, symptoms of menopause, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
While in humans, cousins shouldn’t marry, the same is not true in the hops/cannabis world. In 2022, the Canadian and US marijuana beer market was estimated at $190+ million. Beverages are a growing populations and mainstream beer makers have taken notice. Coors, Molson, Anheuser-Busch, and more have developed beers with cannabis, with some looking toward the non-alcoholic market.