Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says he is extremely happy that Coca-Cola, which is best known for its eponymous caffeine-based Coca-Cola drink, has decided to experiment with a different drug: cannabis.
Reacting to a BBC news that the Coca- Cola drinks giant is in serious talks with a Canadian local cannabis producer Aurora Cannabis about developing marijuana-infused beverages aimed at not intoxicating consumers but to relieve pain, Mr. Sinkamba said time has come for all doubting Thomases to simply accept that cannabis is safe medicine.
“Along with many others in the beverage industry, we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive cannabidiol as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world,” Coca-Cola is reported to have said in a statement.
“It’s going to be more of the ‘recovery drink’ category,” the source told the BBC.
Cannabidiol, a constituent of cannabis, can help ease inflammation, pain and cramping, but has no psychoactive effect.
The move by Coca-Cola comes at a time when Canada prepares to follow certain US states in legalising cannabis for recreational use, after years of permitting it for medicinal purposes.
Legalizing cannabis has given rise to a large cannabis growing industry and some high-profile partnerships.
Earlier this year, beer giant Molson Coors Brewing said it would make cannabis-infused drinks with Hydropothecary, while Corona-beer maker Constellation Brands invested $4bn more into a cannabis firm Canopy Growth.
A partnership between Coke and Aurora would mark the first entry of a major manufacturer of non-alcoholic drinks into the market.
Coca-Cola’s shares rose marginally in early trade yesterday.
And the Green Party leader says he is now vindicated on the question of mass production of cannabis for medical purposes.
“Doubting Thomases have never taken our medical cannabis policy seriously since we announced it five years ago. This policy is for real. It is the only policy agenda at the moment which undoubtedly can be a game-changer in our economy. It is a multi- billion-dollar business only second to smart phones,” he said.
And Mr. Sinkamba has disclosed that he is talks with Finance Minister Margret Mwanakatwe to embark on his pilot project for medical cannabis. He hopes that the talks will materialize so that he proves the point that the cannabis business can be a game-changer even here in Zambia.
“You see, if we had embarked on this agenda in 2013 when I announced it, Zambia would have been same today. We would have been a very rich country by now. Nonetheless, I am holding talks with the Finance Minister. I hope that talks materialize. I want to prove the doubting Thomases that this business can be a game-changer even here in Zambia,” he said.
“We have also been talking to DEC on developing medical-grade cannabis seed though stalled due to on-going litigation issues. We informed DEC of our planned for export of seed stock under an import seed license of our partner based abroad, to enter their research programme so that they can examine the terpenes and cannabinoid profiles of strains from Zambia for medical-grade cannabis. This may well provide a support to our country’s progression in commercialisation, but also an idea to jump start the medical-grade seed stock the nation will require in the future. Our plan is to leaders in medical-grade cannabis in SADC and the rest of the world because of our comparative and absolute advantages,” Mr. Sinkamba added.
Legalise marijuana
The public drug-dealer, so impressive … A progressive mind .
Trying to sell Zambia like the little boy itself! Pathetic. Root of all evil.
We told you naysayers that this is the way to go. I once mentioned that the only way Zambia can benefit from this is to be amongst the first to start legal production strictly for export purposes. There is a company listed on the NewYork Stock Exchange called Aurora. Currently they have the highest yielding dividends and the share price has been rising on a daily basis. Ask me what that company deals in? They deal in Cannabis products mwana. As it stands South Africa, Eswati, Lesotho, Uganda and Rwanda have started production for export, private use and medicinal purposes amongst them. Meanwhile a backward minded nation like Zambia is still holding onto colonial Laws.
God planted weed for human use,now who said it’s an illegal drug that you can be imprisoning innocent lives.Alcohol and tobacco is harmful to human health these have been allowed to be sold anywhere and granted to anyone.this tree of knowledge was adapted by the wise kind and granted to the hands of a black man,so leave us let us cultivate,sell,marijuana.No man can stop me from Skoking marijuana neither me can stop them from sniffing cocaine.We smoke it sometimes we boil it so that we don’t fall asik.Rise up African and see the light
I like the consistence and determination of Peter Sinkamba.
A warning will be enough to those who can’t take weed…….Like the men of GOD
God gave this plant to every living man in Genesis 1:29, he gave man all seed bearing plants on the face of the whole earth as well as every tree that has fruit with seed in it. He further told man that they WILL BE YOURS FOR FOOD. Greediness of man that’s all….no respect Babylon fall. You say Mango is better than Pawpaw lair, that’s your choice.
It seems Sinkamba is ignorant to why its called Coke in the first place…it was infused with recreational drugs when it was originally created although now it infused with toxic substances capable of repelling and killing insects.
Some people love cannabis. They take it as tea, not smoking.
The tea at bed time is marvelous and cools your muscles like a baby.
At a ifyamba
Chamba nsanga ukalumbule bange bakamukaka. Lundumashi kafumokampombo akachila, ingombe ukunona . Kalundo mukulu chushi, mufimbana bakali aba fwala impapa yankalamo . Munshinyelwa pakukumuna, kano uulinomuseba . Mukachikube uwailalile , kumenso. Chinkuli mulepukila pamiloma, uwatomwena nawika. Fimbombo , mulya chushi ,munwa chushi mufimbana chishi , uwasuminwe notubwibwi aumfwakwati tulemutekunya . Leka leka . if you want more name iam very much ready to give. Weed has more than 100 names .
Efyamba nomba ifi….. reason why they hesitate to legalise it.
What’s this?
I villified this man. I mistook him for a jocker and I now publicly apologizing for that.
From now, I have gone Green all the way!
green party ni down
The best way is to boycott! I stopped drinking Coke.
Who cares if even you boycott. One billion chinese and Indians enjoy drinking coke. That is where money is
Sinkamba should be more elated now that even the south african concourt has legalized marijuana for recreational use.
Who cares if you don’t care! I care because it is CHILDISH!
I think Cancer patients and glaucoma patients can benefit from prescribed medicinal marijuana..