As early as tomorrow, one of the most highly anticipated products stemming from the process of marijuana legalization in Washington State will hit stores. Cannabis cold brew coffee, titled “Legal” and made by Mirth Provisions of Longview, Wash., sits ready and waiting in 11-ounce brown glass Stumptown-esque bottles on the eve of the first Washington marijuana stores’ opening. Nevertheless, with the legalization in places like washington marijuana laws are in place to help regulate the industry.
The July 8th opening date falls months later than originally anticipated for legal marijuana sales in general, and many retailers who have been pursuing licenses may not be ready to sell in time for Tuesday. While some physical stores may be struggling with becoming approved, online stores, like fatbuddhaglass, are already having success selling their bongs and other products to many people who enjoy marijuana. Indeed, many are finding out only today whether or not their licenses have been approved. As such, it is unclear where Mirth’s products will first be found, though several retailers have contacted the company expressing interest in carrying the products upon license approval. The product line uses locally grown cannabis extract and includes three flavors of soda-Rainier Cherry, Lemon Ginger and Pomegranate-alongside what’s been getting the most attention: the plain black cannabis cold brew and cannabis cold brew with milk and sugar.
The level of curiosity surrounding these beverages is no surprise in Washington, especially in and around Seattle. Those with licenses to grow cannabis (you might need feminized seeds to grow your own plants) might be less curious as they have most likely tried similar products before but will undoubtedly still be intrigued nonetheless. As the cold brew craze barrels into what’s expected to be another hot Northwest summer, we’ve seen bars working cold brew into cocktails while restaurants and coffee shops put their cold brew on tap. In a region where a passion for caffeine is remarkably reliable, it’s no entrepreneurial surprise to see one more way of tapping into that market.
Each Legal bottled coffee beverage will contain 20 milligrams of THC, the active chemical compound in marijuana. Mirth founder Adam Stites has been quoted as comparing the beverage’s effects to those of “‘a nice IPA or glass of wine.'” That said, state regulators consider 20 milligrams a double dose of the compound. It is definitely a cool gimmick, but there are always going to be those who prefer to smoke the drug rather than drink it. Those who are using it for medical purposes are much more likely to go to places like this lansing dispensary to get hold of marijuana, rather than buying this drink. However, that is not to say that this won’t generate a lot of business.
Wait times to buy tomorrow’s first batch of marijuana are expected to be long at the few stores able to open their doors, and what little supply retailers have stockpiled is expected to sell out almost immediately. For Mirth, there’s a little less of a rush-there’s no comparable product on the market yet, even in Colorado. Whatever day the first bottles make their way into public hands, expect the combination of coffee and cannabis to make an interesting addition to the Northwest’s ever wider-ranging beverage repertoire.
