Seth Rogen, the cannabis icon and actor who is known for his support of THC drinks in spite of their popularity, says that those pushing to limit or prohibit sales are “clearly very concerned” by these beverages. Seth Rogen expects hemp drinks to be a hit in the market due to demand.
Rogen, whose own cannabis brand Houseplant launched a line of infused beverages last year, spoke about cannabis culture and policy issues in an interview with Bon Appétit that was published on Wednesday.
The comedian was asked what he thought about the future marijuana industry. He said that THC beverages “are a very hot area for discussion. You can see how someone may be very concerned by these drinks because many states are under a lot lobbying pressure not to sell them.”
To that point, federal records show that the last three months have seen a surge in congressional lobbying from major alcohol companies and associations aiming to influence federal hemp laws, with a focus on THC beverages that many consumers are turning to as beer and liquor alternatives.
Rogen stated that THC drinks were a good “entry level product” for those who fear cannabis.
Many people consume alcohol. Many people want to release themselves, and I think that weed would be a great choice for many who do not think of it as a healthy choice. It’s about finding the best way to use it.
He also opposed state efforts to ban cannabis products.
“The idea that that shouldn’t be allowed to happen in every state is really patronizing to people—it’s treating people like they’re idiots,” Rogen said. “We are not idiots. “We’re not stupid. It’s no more harmful than alcohol”
The idea that marijuana is being sold in some bars, restaurants, and even sports venues excites me. “I’ve said that until it becomes as easy to purchase weed as alcohol, I think there’s a huge gap in logic,” he continued. “If beer is sold, it’s not a problem to also sell marijuana” [THC beverages]Some places are already doing this. It’s a great sign and demonstrates a significant cultural change.
Beyond restaurants and sporting venues, cannabis beverages are also making their way onto shelves at commercial retailers—including Target, which recently soft launched a pilot program to sell THC-infused drinks for adults at select locations throughout Minnesota. Recent polls found this marketing strategy to be popular with a majority cannabis consumers.
Separately, a subsidiary of a multi-state marijuana company is suing DoorDash, Total Wine and several other businesses for allegedly violating Virginia hemp laws by marketing cannabis products that exceed the legal THC limit.
In the interview with Bon Appétit, Rogen also commented on shifting public perceptions of cannabis and his own role in dissolving stigmas associated with marijuana use through his acting and comedy.
Woody Harrelson, the marijuana icon and former late-night host David Letterman told him once that “nobody talks about it” and “no one is open about it.”
Now he is, and he now has a pharmacy. Rogen explained that at the time it wasn’t something mainstream actors did.
He also stated that marijuana culture has changed over the past few decades, largely because “people started to understand that the initial reasons that weed was made illegal were very dubious.”
“They have started to ask why it is difficult to obtain weed when alcohol can be obtained so easily. “It seems that a different lie comes up every time someone wants to keep weed illegal,” said he. It was first said that it would make you go crazy and then lazy. Then it became a gateway to other drugs. People’s experience slowly tells people that they can still be crazy and lazy without trying weed. They could also smoke weed to avoid any of these things.
Slowly, the stigmas began to disappear.
Beyond his contributions to cannabis culture and the industry, Rogen has also leveraged his celebrity to advocate for reform—including in 2021 when he and other influencers like comedian Sarah Silverman launched a campaign meant to encourage U.S. voters to reach out to their senators and demand action on legislation to federally legalize cannabis.
The actor revealed earlier this year that Singapore is the only place where he will not use cannabis. Singapore has some of the most strict anti-drug laws around the globe.
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