NATION NOW

Yes, cannabis-infused beer is a real thing you can drink

Victoria Sanchez
KUSA-TV, Denver

AURORA, Colo. — There's a beer on tap that is truly Colorado.

The "Cannabeer" has been around for a year and could hit kegs and liquor store shelves across the country.

There are hundreds of breweries in Colorado but Dad and Dudes in Aurora is doing things a little differently.

"They're coming from around the world wanting to try cannabis-infused beer," said Mason Hembree, the "Dude" of Dad and Dudes Breweria.

Let's answer the question you're all asking: Can you get high?

"Not high and drunk. Maybe just drunk," said customer Zach Kennie with a laugh.

Hembree is the beer creator and has waited a year to get the federal green light on his recipe. He's on the way to selling General Washington's Secret Stash in all 50 states.

"When we first released, everybody believed, 'oh, a Colorado brewery doing that make sense.' But they didn't think we could sell it outside Colorado," he said. "The coolest part is the fact that we can bring the debate about cannabis and beer to the entire country."

Colo. rule requires marijuana edibles labeling

But before getting the go-ahead from the government, he needed to get past a much higher authority.

"My anti-alcohol, anti-pot mom," Hembree said.

"I really actually always had a negative attitude about marijuana," mom Judy Hembree said.

Although she's a brewery co-owner, she's not a drinker and definitely doesn't smoke weed.

"We don't have pot in our beer. There's no THC in it. Why would anyone put pot or THC in a beer?"

After some explaining, Judy's son convinced her of what some consider potential medical and therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant that doesn't cause a high.

"I honestly don't think it's the big, evil thing that I always thought it was," she said.

With a puff of smoke, Lansing's Cannabis Church kicks off

For beer drinkers thinking this latest brew is a fad, customers said the IPA is actually pretty good.

"I've already had two," said Kennie.

Dad and Dudes Breweria hopes to have the beer canned in November and off to all 50 states by January.

There is a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for General Washington's Secret Stash: http://kck.st/2cBguxE