Province Brands (PB), a Canadian-based brewer of CBD-infused beer is considering setting up its European Headquarters in Ireland.
As reported by the Irish Times, the group recently appointed Niall Phelan, co-founder of Rye River, as chief operating officer, and the firm is seeking exploratory talks with IDA Ireland.
PB is also hopeful that it will launch some of its beers in the Irish market, among others, in the first quarter of next year - despite the legal grey areas.
“Some additional clarification is required around Irish laws,” Phelan said.
“But if Ireland could position itself as a European hub for research and development of cannabis products, there are potentially huge economic benefits.”
CBD Beer
The group has a unique practice in brewing CBD-beer, in which it almost effectively replaces barley with the stalks and stems of cannabis plants.
Phelan claims this method is healthier than more traditional methods of brewing beer.
In addition, since it is illegal to mix alcohol and cannabis in one product in its home market, Province’s weed beers must be non-alcoholic.
While THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient which makes users “high”, is still illegal in Ireland, so the firm plans to launch beers containing CBD (cannabidiol), an ingredient that does not produce a “high” but is said to make users relaxed.
CBD products are currently allowed in Ireland under EU law, however, Irish laws are unclear on the product.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
