The move seemed innocuous, given the narrow scope. But the result has stunned the legal weed industry, with the law leading to an explosion in the market for THC beverages unlike anything seen across the country. Practically every liquor store in Minnesota now devotes shelf space to intoxicating cannabis drinks. Struggling craft breweries have embraced the opportunity to create new product lines infused with pot. Even high-end restaurants, hair salons and this city’s iconic rock club — First Avenue — are selling weed drinks powerful enough to get most people stoned.
“I can’t tell you the number of brewery owners who have told me, ‘But for this product, we would have gone out of business,’” said Democratic state Rep. Zack Stephenson, a leading voice on cannabis policy discussions, noting that many breweries were reeling financially from the pandemic. “The timing was serendipitous. The product became available just at the time that it was needed.” [Read More @ Politico]