CBD was legalized in the United States back in 2018. This has since given rise to companies producing CBD-infused food and drinks.
Cannabidiol is infused in gummies, carbonated drinks, jelly beans, baked goods, and more.
Without specific demarcation of the use of CBD, most consumers are left confused and misinformed whether it’s safe and legal in edible forms. The answer isn’t as simple as you might expect.
In this article, we answer the question as to whether food infused with CBD is safe to consume, and whether it’s worth the money or not.
Why is CBD Infused Into Food & Drinks?
The 2018 Farm Bill passed in the United States of America made the cultivation of hemp legal and removed CBD from the Schedule I restricted drug status.
Once this was done, CBD-infused products flooded the market. CBD was used in tinctures, snack bars, chocolates, smoothies, beverages, gummies, chewies, and pain relief salves.
It’s used in food products for the same applications as CBD oils or capsules.
Health benefits of CBD include:
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Better performance and focus at work
- Relaxes and reduces anxiety, depression, & stress
- Supports pain relief
- Helps with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
- Relaxes muscle tensions and soreness
- Promotes better sleep
- Treats lesions, acne, & eczema
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is classified as a cannabinoid, which is a group of chemical compounds present in cannabis plants. CBD is completely non-psychoactive and offers a variety of unique health benefits.
A few examples of the many benefits of CBD include support for pain, insomnia, depression, inflammation, anxiety, arthritis, nervous disorders, and more.
Is Edible CBD Safe?
Over the years, CBD has shown promising results in managing health conditions. Medical researchers have indicated that this plant compound is well tolerated by consumers and comes with an excellent safety profile.
In 2018, the FDA had given its approval for Epidiolex which is a CBD-based pharmaceutical medication. It’s been shown to be effective in treating different types of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Several studies have also shown it to be powerful in therapeutic treatments for both chronic and acute pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and various other health conditions.
Types of CBD Edibles:
CBD edibles are balanced in their composition and various concentration ratios. These edibles are not created specifically for making you high but come with therapeutic effects. We take you through the various CBD edible options.
1. CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are some of the most widely loved choices. You get them in various shapes, compositions, and designs. The popular ones are gummy bears, edible cubes, and more. The CBD gummies come with a gelatinous structure that holds in the CBD, keeping it fresh.
2. CBD Honey
Honey is also another alternative way of ingesting CBD in your diet. It contains the normal pure and fresh honey infused with CBD oils. You can ingest the CBD honey directly or blend it in smoothies, beverages, shakes, foodstuffs. Apart from this, you can also add it to creams, lotions, and other products for applying CBD topically.
3. CBD Gum
CBD gums come in an assortment of flavors, such as mint, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, and more. Chewing CBD gums enhance oral health, freshens breath, reduces stress, and makes you relaxed. With CBD gum, you are enabling the enriching plant compounds to be absorbed both sublingually and submucosally. It is known to help with inflammation, anxiety, depression, and has ameliorative effects.
4. CBD Beverages
CBD beverages are the trendiest choices. You get them in the form of lattes, beverages, shakes, tea, bottled water, shots, wine, probiotic drinks, and CBD-infused alcoholic beverages. The Cannabidiol is extracted from flowers, resins, leaves, and buds of the strains and infused in the drinks.
Are CBD Edibles Legal?
Technically, CBD is not allowed for use in food products in the United States — although the compound itself is legal across the entire country.
Despite this legal hurdle, you can find CBD food products almost everywhere. Many of these companies risk fines or shut-downs for selling these products, but the FDA has yet to take any physical action against these products.
As the use of CBD is not fully regulated, some food and beverage products that come with this ingredient might make false claims as to its health benefits — which is illegal.
This is why it’s especially important to order your CBD edibles from reputable manufacturers that adhere to the manufacturing standards put in place by the FDA and other regulatory agencies. Check this website for more information.
Final Thoughts: Is CBD-Infused Food Safe & Legal?
Despite CBD being legal federally in the US — it’s still illegal to infuse CBD in food and drink products.
Despite not being approved for sale, CBD is sold in food all over the United States.
Until the Food and Drug Administration includes CBD in the safe-to-use list of food additives, it will be illegal to infuse it in food products.
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