Newsweek: PHI’s Dr. Meenakshi Subbaraman Discusses the Increased Demand of Cannabis-Infused Beverages and Health Risks

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Medical Cannabis News
20 February 2025

The consumption of cannabis cocktails—drinks infused with cannabis-derived compounds—is growing in multiple demographics. In Newsweek, Dr. Meenakshi Subbaraman, program director and biostatistician with PHI’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Studies, comments on the growing demand for cannabis-infused beverages and their health effects.

“A huge generational shift in attitude toward alcohol is ongoing, with younger generations consuming less and more people considering alcohol consumption to be harmful, even in moderation.

And wariness toward alcohol has left an inevitable gap in the market, as while younger generations are shying away from alcohol consumption, they still want beverage options when they’re out or when they want to unwind.

Enter the cannabis cocktail.

What Are Cannabis Cocktails?

A cannabis cocktail is a drink infused with cannabis-derived compounds, like cannabidiol (CBD) or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis cocktails combine these ingredients with traditional cocktail ingredients like ice, garnishing and various flavorings in the same way a mocktail would. However, with these drinks, you’re subbing out the alcohol for THC or CBD rather than making the drink virgin.

Across the United States, CBD cocktails are widely accepted across the United States, given that CBD is federally legal, though legality can differ in different states.

THC cocktails are generally restricted to states where recreational cannabis is legal, though some legalities can vary depending on state or federal legislature.

What Is The Impact On The Alcohol Industry?

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cannabis beverage market was $2.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $117.05 billion by 2032. The cannabis beverage market is dominated by North America, which in 2023 made up a market share of 21.14 percent. The cannabis beverage market in the U.S. is estimated to reach $81.44 billion by 2032.

“Demand for cannabis-infused beverages is certainly growing while the demand for alcohol had declined in recent years,” Meenakshi Subbaraman, MS, Ph.D., a program director and biostatistician with Behavioral Health and Recovery Studies at the Public Health Institute told Newsweek.

Diana Eberlein, chair of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives, echoed Subbaraman’s sentiment. She said that “beer and wine sales have declined by approximately 5 percent since 2023, but the non-alc beer sales have surged by over 25 percent (over $800 million).”

The U.S. alcoholic beverages market was evaluated at $2.5 trillion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $5.7 trillion by 2032. Though this market is priced significantly higher than the cannabis beverage market, the projected growth for the alcohol industry is 10.74 percent until 2032, while the projected growth of the cannabis beverage market is over 4000 percent for the same period.

A 2024 report showed that only 62 percent of U.S. adults consumed alcohol, a decrease from 65 percent back in 2019. Recent advice from the U.S. Surgeon General linking alcohol consumption to cancer has heightened health concerns and may potentially influence consumer behavior.

How Do Cannabis Drinks Compare To Alcoholic Beverages?

There is a marked difference between the two beverages, particularly through a health lens, as alcohol is linked to liver disease, addiction, cancer and cognitive decline. Less research exists into cannabis cocktails, though chronic use of cannabis can have impacts on memory and mental health.

Cannabis is generally far less harmful than alcohol, so cannabis drinks are likely less harmful than alcohol with fewer aftereffects.Meenakshi Subbaraman, MS, PhD

Program Director and Biostatistician, Behavioral Health and Recovery Studies, Public Health Institute

by Public Health Institute

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