During an earnings conference call on Oct. 30, CEO James Quincey was asked about any plans for beverages infused with CBD, which is extracted from cannabis and said to relieve inflammation (among other benefits). “We don’t have any plans at this stage to get into this space,” he answered. Quincey later told CNBC: “It’s just not something we’re interested in.” The answer appears to close the door on the ingredient at Coke, for now at least. Coca-Cola had said in September that it was “closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world.” In an interview with Quincey following the conference call, BD asked Quincey how Coke evaluates such an ingredient. Getting to “serious consideration” means crossing a number of “hurdles,” he said. “To put it in simple terms, there are at least three: Is it safe, is it legal, and is it consumable?” Quincey asked. He said safety means reaching a “consensus

The U.S. soft drink industry got a split decision last week on two statewide ballot measures in Washington and Oregon seeking to block local governments from taxing sweetened beverages. In Washington, 55% of voters approved Measure 1634 to prohibit local excise taxes on groceries, including carbonated soft drinks. While the victory won’t reverse a 1.75-cent per ounce sugar-sweetened beverage tax already imposed this year in Seattle, it does block any increase.