Business
No, Virgin Atlantic Is Not Offering Cannabis-Infused THC Sodas On Its Flights, Company Clarifies
The airline Virgin Atlantic is denying claims it’s partnering with a cannabis beverage company that’s gone out of its way to convince followers a deal has been reached to provide its THC-infused sodas to adult travelers on select U.S. flights.
Drippy, which sells drinks with 10mg of THC and 10mg of CBN, launched a video ad about the claim and shared seemingly forged screenshots of a letter it said was from Virgin Atlantic’s CEO, as well as an email that appeared to come from another executive at the airline.
The company insisted in a social media post that “this is not satire.”
But while the claims made their way into articles that reported the partnership as legitimate in outlets such as BevNet and The Marijuana Herald, a Virgin Atlantic representative told Marijuana Moment on Friday “this story is entirely inaccurate” and the airline has “no partnership with this brand.”
Contacted about that denial, Drippy told Marijuana Moment that the company has “been purposely vague in our responses because… well, that’s half the fun.”
“There’s no official partnership—we staged the whole thing to make a point: it’s wild that you can slam three vodkas on a flight, but not sip a federally legal drink designed to help you relax and feel more comfortable,” Drippy co-founder Alleh Shondeh Lindquis acknowledged.
“We figured some people might be annoyed they got fooled—but so far, it’s been met with laughs, curiosity, and excitement for the possibility,” he said in an email. “It’s definitely turning heads, and honestly, it’s shaping up to be the best marketing stunt the cannabis beverage space has seen to date.”
Part of the success of the “stunt” comes down to the oddly specific nature of the posts that Drippy has published. For example, the letter it shared on X included a Virgin Atlantic letterhead, address for the company’s headquarters and the signature of the airline’s CEO, Shai Weiss.
“At Virgin Atlantic, we believe flying should feel less like a chore and more like a vibe,” the letter attributed to the CEO says. “That’s why we’re proud to announce a new partnership with Drippy Soda, the bold, euphoric beverage brand that’s redefining what it means to kick back and relax.”
“Beginning this month, select Virgin flights between Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Miami will offer Drippy onboard,” it says. “It’s the first-ever cannabis-infused soda served in-flight, a milestone in both aviation and beverage history (if we do say so ourselves).”
To further attempt and substantiate the alleged partnership, Drippy posted a screenshot of an email that it said came from Virgin Atlantic’s vice president of customer experiences to the company’s in-flight service team.
“We are taking a bold leap and are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking addition to our onboard experience. Drippy, a cannabis-infused soda, will now be available on select domestic flights across the Virgin network,” the email, which is categorized as “internal,” says. “Additional product training will come from your direct manager.”
The email appeared to be signed by Daniel Kerzer, who was listed as vice president of customer experiences. Kerzner’s LinkedIn page, however, says that he hasn’t worked at Virgin Atlantic since 2021.
Drippy also put together a one-minute video ad that similarly promotes a partnership that the airline has categorically denied.
The claims proved convincing to a number of Drippy’s social media followers, as well as select media publishers that reported the partnership as fact.
“Virgin Atlantic announced today that it will be offering THC beverages on select flights between LA, SF, NY, and Miami,” The Marijuana Herald’s Anthony Martinelli said. He then quoted the fictional statement from the airline.
The trade publication BevNet also promoted its reporting on the alleged deal.
Marijuana Moment asked Drippy if it had any concern that about potential legal liability for manufacturing the partnership without any disclosures about satirical intent, but the company didn’t respond to that inquiry by the time of publication.
For what it’s worth, Virgin’s founder, Richard Branson, has been public about his support for legalizing marijuana, ending the broader drug war and providing access to psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.
Image element courtesy of Steve Fitzgerald.
