california

Not to go all Alex Jones on you, but in this knee-jerk response the “conspiracy” is laid bare and we see the real reason why marijuana isn’t legal–all the other intoxicants you might stop using, and the potentially lost billions in legally-sanctioned liquor and pharmaceutical sales.

Props to Sierra Nevada for stepping up to separate themselves from their beer distributing ilk in California:

We’ve been getting lots of calls and email regarding our stance on California’s Proposition 19-which would legalize marijuana if passed. A beer industry group surprised us by linking our name in with their opposition. We had no idea it was happening and we disagree with their position.

This week, the California Beer and Beverage Distributors (CBBD) came out against California Proposition 19—also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. The CBBD is an industry group that represents the interests of beer distributors and members. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and many other independent craft brewers are associate members of the CBBD.

Although we are members of this organization, we were neither consulted—nor informed of—their decision to take a stand against California Proposition 19. Sierra Nevada’s role as an associate member grants no access or influence on the political agendas of the CBBD, and we had no knowledge of the organization’s intention to fight this ballot proposition.

The CBBD does not represent Sierra Nevada’s political interests in any way, and does not represent the brewery’s stance on the issue. We’ve requested the CBBD to remove our name from their list of members, and also to disassociate the brewery from this and any future political actions.

And before I could even finish this post, Stone Brewery made it very clear they’re with Sierra Nevada and not with the CBBD:

Stone is not a part of this. This caught us off guard. We are merely a non-voting Allied Member of this trade group (CA Beer & Beverage Distributors aka CBBD). As such, Stone Brewing does not / cannot participate in the political action decisions of the CBBD.

The organization that most directly represents the political interests of the Stone Brewing Co. is the California Small Brewers Association (CSBA), and the CSBA organization does not make a habit of chiming in, one way or the other, on non-beer related political issues. Same for the Stone Brewing Co…we’re not political animals and we prefer to keep it that way.

We regret that it has been inferred that Stone is associated with this decision of the CBBD, as quite simply, we are not.

I get it if you’re Budweiser or Miller – your audience is probably comprised of enough non-smokers who might, were marijuana legalized, give it a try and decide they want to devote their days to smoking the sweet cheeba. But microbrews? I’m going to go ahead and guess that a large portion of the people buying craft beers have given weed a shot, and if it’s their thing, they aren’t having any trouble finding it, legalized or not.

Will be interesting to see which other breweries do like Sierra Nevada and Stone and distance themselves from this stance and which stand with the CBBD at their own peril. Hell hath no fury like a stoner scorned.