The beverage giant is reportedly in talks with Canadian company Aurora Cannabis to develop a product that would include CBD oil, a non-psychoactive derivative of the cannabis plant which has numerous medical benefits.
According to Courier Mail COCA-Cola has said it is studying the use of a key ingredient in marijuana in “wellness beverages”, as a growing number of mainstream companies develop cannabis-infused drinks.
In a statement, the iconic soft drink producer said it has “no interest in marijuana or cannabis” but that it is “closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world.”
Cannabidiol is a chemical in marijuana that does not have the intoxicating effects of THC, the major active ingredient that causes the “high”. It has been used to treat epilepsy and other maladies.
“The space is evolving quickly,” Coca-Cola said.
“No decisions have been made at this time.”