As many people may know, Cannabis is one of the oldest medicines in the world, used for centuries to alleviate a plethora of aches, pains and ailments.
It is only in recent years however, that it has become more popular after the compound Cannabidiol (CBD) was isolated from Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the hallucinogen within the Marijuana plant, and was proved to be an effective treatment for a number of modern conditions.
Though initially all parts of the cannabis plant were illegal in the UK, the government partly overturned this law in 2018. Resulting in CBD (within certain quantities) becoming legal across the country.
Since then, interest in the creation of CBD products has surged, with the compound now being widely sold by health and beauty brands claiming to help skin, hair, overall health, and many other claims.
It is worth noting, also, that medical professionals do agree that the compound has medical benefits, and that it can be a very effective treatment if taken in the correct way.
However, researchers are still investigating the long term effects of CBD and the correct and most effective way to take it. So if you are someone who opts to use it, it is definitely worth paying attention to ongoing research being done into it.
But what exactly is CBD and do you really want it in your food?
Well, CBD is actually one of 120 compounds found in cannabis plants. This particular compound is the second most prevalent ingredient within the plant. And, because it does not contain any THC, it cannot get you “high”.
In the UK, CBD products cannot be sold legally unless they contain 0.2% or less THC. This appears to have somewhat widened the market for the product since many people see it as less of a threat or risk, knowing there is no chance of experiencing psychoactive effects.
Due to this widening of the market, CBD is now increasingly being seen sold within an array of food products including water, savoury snacks, chocolate, and sweets.
Not only this, more and more restaurants and bars are jumping on the bandwagon, particularly in food and drink hubs like London.
TT Liquor in Shoreditch, for example, offers a signature craft beer by the name of High Flyer that combines quality hops with Cannabis Sativa L, making you feel like a high flyer, without actually getting you high.
While Chingford joint (if you pardon the pun) The Feel Good Cafe boast their mission to “overcome illnesses through mindfulness, techniques and nutrition” by offering a wide range of ethically cooked vegan dishes, with the option to add CBD oil to any of them for just 80p extra.
Soft drink brand Trip are also leading the CBD drinks market with their lightly sparkling, vegan and gluten- free canned drinks. Boasting a range of flavours from Peach to Elderflower, these seem to be the go-to for those looking for CBD infused drinks.
It does not stop there either, hospitality venues up and down the country, and across the globe, are trying their hand at CBD infused food and drink, if only to see what the fuss is about themselves.
Despite this ongoing trend that appears to be taking the nation by storm, many doctors and healthcare professionals believe that although CBD does have its benefits, the amount being used within food and drink is unlikely to be enough to have the desired effect.
Many have stated that in order to effectively treat a condition, large quantities of the compound are required, but often the amount in food and drink is limited to just a few milligrams, rendering itself essentially useless. With many doctors believing that buying CBD infused food is a waste of money.
Questions have also been raised about the ethics of consumers not knowing how much CBD is in their food, as well as the legality of such sales, given the very strict laws on the quantities of CBD allowed on the market.
As a result of this, 2019 did see the Food Standards Agency classify CBD as a “novel food item” requiring producers to gain authorisation and approval of all foods containing CBD before going on sale.
So, while there is not a lot of specific guidance on how to approach CBD food, it does seem abundantly clear that it is probably best not to rely on a CBD brownie to effectively treat any pain.
However, if you do happen to be a particularly explorative foodie, you may find sampling some of the many products on offer, quite an exciting activity.
Chloe Rose
New Food News
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