The craft beer industry has been taking an interesting turn.. in the direction of cannabis. The latest trend in South Florida's craft beer industry is marijuana beer.
However, there has been a halt in the production. This week, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, aka the TTB, sent cease-and-desist letters to Devour Brewing in Boynton Beach and Invasive Species Brewing in Fort Lauderdale. The letters that came on Monday, blocl the sales of any craft beer that is infused with cannabis terpenes oil - which the federal agency has not approved.
Cannabis terpenes are oils that are extracted from marijuana plants, which is what give weed its stinky flavor. Owner of Invasive Species, Phil Gillis, says that he wasn't aware that the show needed federal approval, since it does not contain THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces a euphoric high. It also does not contain CBD, a nonpsychoactive that is said to offer relief from anxiety, pain and depression.
Breweries who use cannabis terpenes oil “should stop production of any fermented beverages […] until you have obtained the appropriate formula approval,” a TTB letter mailed to Devour Brewing Company states.
Owner of the Fort Lauderdale brewery, Kyle Jones, LauderAle, says that he did not receive a cease-and-desist letter from the TTB, and is throwing an event called Project Terpene, a festival that will feature four beers with cannabis terpenes oils.
“You can’t deny it’s a trend right now and everyone’s doing it,” says Jones. “For people who’ve never drank it, they can experience flavors they never experienced before. It’s a really great meeting of molecules.”