Easter candy is getting the CBD treatment.
David Klein, the maker of quirkily-flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans, is now infusing candy with cannabidiol (CBD), one of the compounds found in marijuana plants that won’t get users high like THC. While it’s non-intoxicating, however, it may still alter brain function. It’s the latest mainstream candy to jump on the marijuana edible trend, joining the saturated market of gummies, chocolates and fruit snacks.
Klein sold Jelly Belly in 1980, but he hasn’t stopped making candy since, USA Today reports. He was inspired to create CBD jelly beans after learning about the compound’s reported health benefits. Klein’s company, Spectrum Confections, features CBD jelly beans in 38 assorted flavors like cinnamon, spicy licorice, strawberry cheesecake and mango. They contain 10 mg of CBD each, and are said to be coated with sugar to mask the CBD flavor inside.
The CBD-infused jelly beans, which have no affiliation with the candy company Jelly Belly, can only be purchased in bulk — a minimum of 800 pieces — and appear to be in such high demand that they’ve sold out, according to the company website. Customers, however, can fill out a contact form on the website to place an order once they become available again. Consumers have to be at least 18 years old to buy the candy, according to the website. The CBD candy looks just like ordinary jelly beans so parents should consider keeping the sweet treats on a high shelf out of a child’s reach.
The world Health Organization found there are no adverse health risks for the recreational use of CBD in a 2017 report, however, doctors say that not enough research has been done yet to determine a safe dosage of CBD oil, especially in food for kids.
The CBD market is estimated to hit $2.1 billion market in sales by 2020, up 700% since 2016, with $450 million of those sales from hemp-based sources.
The CBD market is estimated to hit $2.1 billion market in sales by 2020, up 700% since 2016, with $450 million of those sales from hemp-based sources, according to The Hemp Business Journal.
The future of CBD regulation, however, is still in limbo following the resignation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb earlier this month. Hemp was legalized in December 2018 under the Farm Bill. However, the FDA issued a statement shortly after the Farm Bill’s passage explaining that it still considered CBD illegal when it’s added to food products make “unsubstantiated therapeutic claims.”
Meanwhile, the FDA approved a CBD-based medicine aiming to treat a severe type of epilepsy. In New York City, health officials have cracked down on the sale of CBD-infused food and drink, even telling restaurants serving trendy CBD cocktails to remove the items from their menus, the Wall Street Journal reported.
But the buzzed-about ingredient continues to expand its reach in the food, beverage and hospitality industry, despite not being regulated by the FDA. On the beverage front, there’s a line of CBD-infused seltzer called Recess that debuted earlier this year also containing 10 milligrams of CBD. Restaurants, like Spring in Los Angeles, have entire menus devoted to the ingredient with dishes including branzino with red quinoa, carrot-ginger soup and vanilla panna cotta all made with CBD.
The buzzed-about ingredient continues to expand its reach in the food, beverage and hospitality industry, despite not being regulated by the FDA.
Michael Klein, CEO of cannabisMD, a website that provides health and medical information about CBD and medical cannabis, recommends no more than 15 mg to 20 mg of CBD per day. That doesn’t add up to a lot of jelly beans.
“That may mean one bean in the morning, one in the afternoon, depending on the quantity of CBD,” he said. “Effectiveness of the jelly bean comes down to the quality of CBD that is being used. And given the sugar content, it probably won’t help you with your sleep.”
There is some scientific evidence that shows CBD has several health benefits, including an anti-anxiety effect and anti-inflammatory properties said to help treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis by minimizing the amount of redness and itching.
Studies have also shown that CBD can help patients that suffer from digestive diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Doctors have warned, however, that there’s not enough research to determine a safe dosage of CBD oil, particularly in food.
“People think you take it and that’s it, but there are side effects of CBD oil. It makes you nauseous, it can make you feel fatigued, and it can make you feel really sleepy.Take it with a grain of salt,” Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill hospital in New York City, said.
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