Coca-Cola is considering producing a cannabis-infused drink that would help people with chronic pain.

The U.S. drinks giant said it was “closely watching” the development of the cannabis industry and looking into a possible “functional wellness beverage.”

The potential product would include the ingredient CBD, or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component in cannabis.

It would not include THC, the main, high-inducing active ingredient in cannabis.

In a statement the company said, “Along with many others in the beverage industry we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world.

“The space is evolving quickly. No decisions have been made at this time.”

CBD is used by many people for medical reasons including to counter chronic pain and inflammation, anxiety and epilepsy.

According to a Bloomberg report Coca-Cola has been in talks with Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian company that has been looking into such drinks.

In a statement the Canadian company said, “Aurora has expressed specific interest in the infused beverage space, and we intend to enter that market.”

Last month Constellation Brands, which makes the beer Corona, said it would invest US$4 billion in a different Canadian cannabis industry company.

The country is in the process of legalizing the drug for recreational use.

In the United States cannabis is still illegal under federal law, but it is legal in some states.

As consumption of soda drinks declines, Coca-Cola has already diversified into products including juice and mineral water. Last month it announced it was buying Costa Coffee for US$5.1 billion.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【慢性的】mànxìng de chronic lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence

【癫痫】diānxián epilepsy a brain disorder that causes people to have seizures

可口可乐公司正考虑生产一种加入大麻的饮料，可帮助人们缓解慢性疼痛。

美国饮料巨头可口可乐表示，正在“密切关注”大麻产业的发展，并考虑生产一种“功能性健康饮料”。

这款计划中的产品将包含一种不具精神活性的大麻成分，大麻二酚。

产品中将不包含四氢大麻酚——大麻中具有强诱导作用的主要活性成分。

可口可乐公司在一则声明中称：“和饮料产业的许多其他公司一样，我们密切关注着不具精神活性的大麻二酚作为功能性健康饮料成分的全球进展情况。”

“进展很迅速。不过目前还没有决定将大麻加入饮料。”

医用大麻二酚被许多人用于抵抗慢性疼痛、发炎、焦虑和癫痫等症状。

根据彭博社的报告，可口可乐公司正在和加拿大的“极光大麻”公司进行商谈。“极光大麻”一直在研究这种饮料。

这家加拿大公司在一则声明中说：“极光对大麻饮料特别感兴趣，并打算进军这一市场。”

上个月，科罗娜啤酒的制造商星座集团称其将投资40亿美元给加拿大另一家大麻行业的公司。

加拿大正致力于将娱乐用途的大麻合法化。

在美国，根据联邦法律，大麻仍是非法的，但在某些州是合法的。

随着碳酸饮料消费量的下降，可口可乐已经发展出多个产品分支，包括果汁和矿泉水。上个月，可口可乐宣布将以51亿美元的价格收购Costa咖啡。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)