A common trope among weed advocates is that efforts to keep the drug illegal and in Schedule I are bankrolled by the “Bigs”: Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and Big Alcohol. These addiction industries have all allegedly thrown their lot in with anti-marijuana zealots for some reason, usually expressed in dark and conspiratorial terms.
That’s a “big” nope! Let’s take a closer look:
Big Tobacco
- June 3, 2014 – Big Tobacco Planned Big Marijuana Sales in the 1970s – Internal documents reveal that as far back as the 1970s, tobacco giants like British American Tobacco and Philip Morris were quietly researching—and even planning potential “pot” products—for a future where marijuana might be legalized, despite publicly opposing its use.
- February 9, 2021 – How Tobacco Giant Altria Is Becoming A Cannabis Company – Altria has begun lobbying at both the federal and state levels—most notably in Virginia—to shape marijuana legalization under what it describes as a “transparent, responsible, and equitable regulatory framework” (uh-huh) while simultaneously reinforcing its position in the marijuana market through investments like its stake in Cronos Group.
- July 24, 2023 – Big Tobacco Bets Big On Cannabis – Philip Morris International is planning to acquire Israeli company Syqe Medical for up to $650 million, contingent on FDA approval of Syqe’s metered-dose, pharmaceutical-grade medical marijuana inhaler. This move—coupled with surging vape product sales—signals Big Tobacco’s growing confidence in marijuana markets and may foreshadow federal rescheduling of marijuana.
- May 20, 2025 – Beyond Nicotine: The Industry’s Long Road to Transformation – Leading tobacco companies are investing billions in R&D on novel nicotine delivery systems, and leveraging that expertise to diversify into adjacent sectors such as pharmaceuticals, marijuana, and wellness—frequently acquiring stakes in inhalation, oral delivery systems, and CBD product providers
Big Pharma
- December 20, 2021 – Pfizer Bets On Medical Cannabis With $6.7 Billion Acquisition – Pfizer entered the medical marijuana field by announcing a definitive agreement to acquire Arena Pharmaceuticals—developer of the cannabinoid-based therapeutic candidate Olorinab—for approximately $6.7 billion in an all-cash deal, marking a strategic expansion into cannabinoid-driven treatments
- September 21, 2023 – Big Pharma Eyes Cannabis – The Next Frontier in High-Growth Investment – Pharmaceutical giants, armed with approximately $700 billion in capital, are increasingly viewing marijuana as a high-growth opportunity.
- November 15, 2023 – The evolving landscape of medicinal cannabis and its synergy with pharmaceutical giants – Big pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in the legal marijuana sector—highlighted by Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ £5 billion acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer’s stake in Arena Pharmaceuticals.
Big Alcohol
- March 15, 2021 – Why the Alcohol Industry Is Betting Big on Cannabis – Alcohol companies are increasingly exploring cannabis beverages—especially THC- and CBD-infused drinks—as a strategic response to declining alcohol consumption. This shift reflects broader efforts to diversify product offerings and capture emerging market demand.
- August 22, 2022 – Three Reasons Why Big Alcohol Eyes Big Marijuana As Opportunity – Big Alcohol doesn’t view the rise of the marijuana industry as a threat, but rather as a promising avenue to expand its reach and boost profits—driven by projections of marijuana market growth, the trend of consumers pairing alcohol and marijuana, and the ability to premiumize marijuana-infused products alongside traditional lifestyle offerings
- July 23, 2025 – Big Alcohol prepares to fight back as buzzy cannabis drinks steal sales – Major alcohol companies—including Constellation Brands, the brewer behind Corona—are quietly evaluating entry into the hemp-derived THC beverage market. Despite earlier setbacks in marijuana investments, Constellation is conducting internal research into hemp-based marijuana drinks as a potential growth lever amid declining alcohol sales.
Sure, these industries may have seen marijuana as a competitor at one point. Now? They’re all in—and all in on “movements” aiming to legalize, commercialize, and normalize marijuana and thereby boost their bottom line.
“Addiction-for-profit” is right.
This content was created with assistance from generative AI.