The demand for cannabis-infused beverages is on the incline, with the United Kingdom being the latest place on the map to start selling cannabis oil-infused beer. It is the first beer of its kind in the UK. Adding to its allure is the product’s name, “Buffalo Soldier,” which was inspired by reefer-loving reggae musician Bob Marley.

What is Buffalo Soldier and where can it be purchased?

Described as “refreshing and blonde,” the Buffalo Soldier beer contains 3.8 percent alcohol and small traces of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the medically beneficial cannabis compound used to make the ale.

Since CBD is non-psychoactive, the beer is legal for residents of the UK, where the plant has not yet been legalized.

Stockton Brewery Company has introduced the new beverage as a way of capitalizing on the rise of cannabis-based drinks. The brewery is located in Teesside, England.

“The lads were excited about creating the product and are happy to be part of the first ale in the UK to contain cannabis oil,” said a Buffalo Soldier spokesperson.

He went on to explain how the initial batch of cannabis-infused drinks will take six weeks to produce. When Buffalo Soldier is ready to be bottled and sold, punters can guzzle some “cannabeer” for £3.50 a piece. (That’s equivalent to about $4.90.)

Popularity of medical-grade CBD oil rises in the UK

The team at Stockton Brewery Company are excited to welcome the Buffalo Soldier beer, which they anticipate will sell out quickly.

Over the last few years, the number of people using CBD oil as a health supplement in Great Britain and Northern Ireland has steadily increased.

Assembly members in the UK are keen supporters of cannabis legalization, as are the many patients who feel that they would benefit from using cannabis-based medication.

Suitable for use as an anxiety and insomnia treatment, CBD oil is fast-becoming one of the most in-demand products of today. Some experts also claim that the oil can be used to relieve cancer symptoms and chronic pain.

Are cannabis-infused drinks the next big thing?

Quite possibly. Cannabis laws are becoming much more lenient across the United States  – something that is encouraging craft beer producers to start creating cannabis-laced drinks.

Global interest in cannabis-infused beverages is opening up an entirely new door of opportunity for budding brewery owners. Not only are these drinks being produced for social use but also for medical use. With a metered dose of CBD, medical cannabis patients can self-medicate easily in an enjoyable way.

By summer, recreational cannabis will be legalized throughout Canada. There is a good chance that this will act as a catalyst for the weed drink craze.

Back in October 2017, US-based alcohol company Constellation Brands invested a 10 percent stake in Canada-based Canopy Growth Corporation. This joint partnership will see Constellation partnering with Canopy to develop cannabis beverages that will be distributed worldwide.

Even Budweiser’s boss, Chris Burggraeve, anticipates great things for the rise of weed-infused beer.

“The same way that craft beer started and, for the longest time, was ignored and then exploded, there’s no reason why the same thing wouldn’t happen in this space,” said Burggraeve during an interview with Bloomberg in 2017.