Hi5 Cannabis Energy Drink
Despite the buckets of empty booze bottles you may have seen piling up in your neighbors’ garbage bins during the pandemic, 22% of consumers actually reported drinking less in 2021, according to Nielsen data. In fact, last year, off-premise sales of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages rose to $3.1 billion – up from $291 million the year prior.
With consumers looking for alternatives to alcohol to unwind and opting for healthier lifestyle choices, it’s no wonder some cannabis companies want in on the action.
Proving A Theory
On the heels of selling 1 million cans of its Hi5 infused-cannabis seltzer in Massachusetts in less than nine months, Theory Wellness, an independently-owned cannabis company with operations in Massachusetts and Maine, is launching Hi5 Energy, a new, fast-acting, cannabis-infused energy beverage.
According to information procured exclusively ahead of an official announcement. the newest addition to the company’s beverage brand, which launches for consumers this Friday, contains 80mg of caffeine – the same as a cup of coffee, and 5mg of THC. The beverage will be available in regular and sugar-free citrus varieties.
How It’s Made
Hi5 Energy uses nano-emulsified THC, which delivers a faster onset of therapeutic effects and eliminates the 30-to-90-minute wait that it normally takes for cannabis edibles to activate when ingested.
This technology allows for a more controllable cannabis experience than traditional edibles, and creates a lower barrier to entry for those on the fence about trying cannabis.
“Cannabis beverages are appealing to a wide range of consumers, particularly since they can be enjoyed discreetly. Hi5 Energy drinks also kick in much faster than traditional edibles, helping to eliminate the waiting game and counterbalance the secondary effects of sluggishness that can occur after consuming THC,” explained Brandon Pollock, CEO and co-founder of Theory Wellness.
A Growing Segment
In recent years, the infused cannabis beverage product category has gained massive traction. With sales estimated around $915 million in 2021, the segment is projected to reach $2 billion by 2026, driven by 16.9% CAGR.
Consumers are turning to cannabis beverages as a healthier alternative to alcohol to socialize and unwind. In states where adult-use cannabis is legal, 51% of GenZ consumers – the fastest growing demographic in the weed sector, stated they have used cannabis beverages. Furthermore, among people who consume cannabis beverages, 57% are consuming them at least weekly.
Pollock added, “As technology evolves and cannabis brands like ours bring to market more product variety, faster and better absorption, cannabis beverages are well positioned to continue to take up more market share.”
Coupled with the fact that within two years of medicinal cannabis becoming legal, researchers also uncovered that state alcohol sales dropped roughly 13% on average, and that the energy drink market is forecasted to reach soaring highs of nearly $100 billion by 2027 (at a 7.2% CAGR), it comes as no surprise that cannabis companies like Theory Wellness are making moves, looking to give consumers wings that take them to new highs.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2022/05/19/move-over-red-bull-this-new-cannabis-infused-energy-drink-energy-will-get-you-in-high-spirits/