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Bottoms up! Company selling cannabis-infused seltzer water in Massachusetts

Bottoms up! Company selling cannabis-infused seltzer water in Massachusetts
ED: LEGALIZED MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL USE IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS CREATED A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR, CANNABIS INFUSED SELTZER WATER IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. MARIA: THE FIRST TO GET INTO THE GAME HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS MAKING ITS MARK ON THE INDUSTRY. HERE'S DOUG WITH TONIGHT'S MAD IN MASS. REPORTER: WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT MAY JUST BE THE NEXT BIG THING IN ADULT BEVERAGES. >> IT'S EQUAL PARTS SCIENCE AND FUN. REPORTER: MATT IS PRESIDENT AND CFO LE VIA. THIS CANNABIS INFUSED SELTZER WATER COMPANY WAS LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY. >> WE LOOKED AT THE MARKET, LOOKED AT THE BEVERAGE SEGMENT ON A NATIONAL SCALE AND REALIZED THAT IT REALLY WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT REPRESENTED IN MASSACHUSETTS. REPORTER: WHILE IT'S NOT ONLY REPRESENTING THIS NEW CANNABIS BEVERAGE MARKET, THEY ARE CORNERING IT. >> IN JUST A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS, WE ARE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE SELLING BEVERAGES IN THE NATION. >> THESE ARE THE MIXING TANKS. REPORTER: CHRISTEN ROGERS IS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. SHE AND HER HUSBAND BEGAN THEIR QUEST FOR DEVELOPING THIS UNIQUE DRINK IN A WORK SPACE OVER THEIR GARAGE IN 2017. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY WERE INTRODUCED TO A CHEMIST WHO HELPED THEM UNLOCK THE SECRET T CREATING A CLEAR BEVERAGE. >> THIS IS WHAT GETS EXTRACTED FROM THE FLOWER. REPORTER: THE SECRET SAUCE IS HOW THEY COMBINE OIL AND WATER AND NOT MAKE THE END PRODUCT LOOK LIKE SALAD DRESSING. >> THIS WOULD BE THE OIL PLUS TH EMULSION, WHICH IS WHAT ALLOWS THE CANNABIS TO BIND WITH THE SELTZER. REPORTER: CURRENTLY, THEY MAKE THREE DIFFERENT FLAVORED OFFERINGS: RASPBERRY LIME ACHIEVE; LEMON LINE CELEBRATE; AND JAMBERRY DREAM. EACH PRESENTING THE CONSUMER WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EFFECT. AS FAR AS THE EFFECT THIS MASSACHUSETTS COMPANY WILL HAVE ON AN INDUSTRY THAT IS REALL ONLY IN THE BEGINNING STAGES, FOR FOLKS HERE, THEY BELIEVE THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. >> RIGHT NOW, BEVERAGES REPRESENT JUST AROUND 2% OF OVERALL CANNABIS SALES. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL NET OUT AT IN THE FUTURE, BUT SUBSUBSTANTIALLY MORE. >> TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND JUST HOW FAST LEVIA IS GROWING, CURRENTLY, THEY'RE CANNING AT A RATE OF 40 CANS PER MINUTE. NEXT MONTH WITH NEW EQUIPMENT, THEY'LL BE CANNING 100 CANS EVERY MINUTE. THEY SAY THAT'S JUST SO THEY CAN KEEP UP W
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Bottoms up! Company selling cannabis-infused seltzer water in Massachusetts
Legalized recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts has created a variety of business opportunities. One company is "testing the waters" of the new market by reinventing adult beverages with a new ingredient: cannabis.LEVIA, which launched earlier this year, is selling scanned seltzer drinks infused with cannabis. The company has the product available at more than 70 licensed cannabis dispensaries across the Bay State.According to a press release from LEVIA, "Each 12 ounce can of seltzer contains 5MG THC, zero calories, and zero sugar." The drinks come in three flavors with different strains of cannabis: "Achieve," a raspberry-lime flavored drink with sativa, a strain known for giving an energizing kick; "Dream," a jam-berry flavored seltzer infused with indica, a strain known sometimes jokingly called "in da couch" for its relaxing effects; and "Celebrate," a hybrid blend that is lemon-lime flavored.The seltzers are sold individually at MSRP of $7."To be the first manufacturer in Massachusetts to bring a product like ours to market is both thrilling and humbling," said Kristin Rogers, cofounder of LEVIA, in a press release. "The cannabis industry is so dynamic, fueled by those with an entrepreneurial spirit, including our female-led, social equity-focused company. We are excited to establish an infused beverage category here in Massachusetts by bringing an innovative, refreshing, zero calorie seltzer to the market as our first product."

Legalized recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts has created a variety of business opportunities.

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One company is "testing the waters" of the new market by reinventing adult beverages with a new ingredient: cannabis.

LEVIA, which launched earlier this year, is selling scanned seltzer drinks infused with cannabis. The company has the product available at more than 70 licensed cannabis dispensaries across the Bay State.

According to a press release from LEVIA, "Each 12 ounce can of seltzer contains 5MG THC, zero calories, and zero sugar."

The drinks come in three flavors with different strains of cannabis: "Achieve," a raspberry-lime flavored drink with sativa, a strain known for giving an energizing kick; "Dream," a jam-berry flavored seltzer infused with indica, a strain known sometimes jokingly called "in da couch" for its relaxing effects; and "Celebrate," a hybrid blend that is lemon-lime flavored.

The seltzers are sold individually at MSRP of $7.

"To be the first manufacturer in Massachusetts to bring a product like ours to market is both thrilling and humbling," said Kristin Rogers, cofounder of LEVIA, in a press release. "The cannabis industry is so dynamic, fueled by those with an entrepreneurial spirit, including our female-led, social equity-focused company. We are excited to establish an infused beverage category here in Massachusetts by bringing an innovative, refreshing, zero calorie seltzer to the market as our first product."