Celebrities like Willie Nelson , Tommy Chong, and Snoop Dogg have all thrown their hats into the cannabis industry, way back when, while musician Melissa Etheridge and former NBA great Clifford Robinson have been open about their medical use. But the Oscar-winning director of The Godfather, Godfather II, and Apocalypse Now? Well, you can also throw in Francis Ford Coppola , who after 40 years in the wine industry, has joined the cannabis industry, as reported by the Press Democrat :
“ Wine and cannabis are two ancient and generous gifts from Mother Nature , tied to great care, territory and temperance. Knowledge that is applied from one to the other,” Coppola said in a statement Thursday. “As with growing grapes, the locations and the Grower’s Series reflect the California agricultural expertise that creates a true blend of art and science. ”
Coppola sees an opportunity to help leverage his other brands in the new venture, as told via Sana, the company: “ brings to life a progressive vision as a pioneer of the highest quality, sun-grown cannabis products through sustainable agriculture .”
According to some rumors, the cannabis that will be produced by the award-winning director will be sold in a package shaped like a wine bottle, a glass pipe, rolling papers and a box of matches, through the home delivery site Chill, which specializes in marijuana and derivatives.
Other wine and beer companies have looked to North America for a potential growth market. Petaluma-based Lagunitas Brewing Co. was the first well-known brand on the market to create a cannabis-infused beverage, made in partnership with Santa Rosa-based CannaCraft, sold only at licensed California cannabis dispensaries.
Johnny Deim, founder and CEO of Humboldt Brothers, said his deal with Coppola was a “ benchmark of how times are changing .” He has also had contacts with other brands and famous musicians, but said he felt comfortable signing Coppola for his first deal because of the director’s passion for the product.
Despite Coppola’s experience in the wine industry, it’s still very relevant when someone with such a reputation joins the fray, not only for ethical reasons, but also because it shows how much the industry has untapped potential, and is in excellent health , as highlighted in a recent article of ours. While many celebrities are waiting to enter the market, people with the appeal of Etheridge and Coppola are helping to further spread marijuana culture, making state legalization a bit more likely.
It’s nice to hear Coppola call cannabis one of “Mother Nature’s two ancient and generous gifts,” and to know that he’s joined the “Revolution.” It will be interesting to see what celebrity-branded cannabis products are put out in the next five years, hopefully those with their hearts and minds in the right place will be rewarded by consumers.