CBD and alcohol seem like a natural pairing. Alcohol gives your body a buzz, while CBD is associated with calming effects. This is why bar owners are eager to infuse their drinks.
CBD has become wildly popular. So by adding the cannabinoid to the menu, businesses can expect to attract new customers.
“People feel just wonderful, chilled, relaxed, calm, mellow… Then, everyone is able to get up and walk home in a decent manner,” New York City bar owner Zsolt Csonka explained when asked why his patrons enjoy CBD.
The Research
Studies have shown that people who consume CBD with their alcohol have a lower blood alcohol level than those who don’t. CBD-infused cocktails and CBD-infused beer can be found at bars throughout the country drawing in long lines.
A significant body of evidence points toward CBD’s ability to act as a mild relaxant. People who consume CBD won’t get high, but they often report feeling calmer and more relaxed.
The Law
Selling alcohol mixed with cannabis is illegal in all fifty states. Regulators believe that the potential effects on your body are too severe.
CBD can be derived from cannabis or hemp. If it comes from hemp, it’s legal across the U.S. However, some states have taken measures to explicitly outlaw adding CBD to food or drinks, arguing that the effects of the compound are too unknown to be trusted.
The federal government has a similar viewpoint. The Food and Drug Administration prohibits businesses from adding CBD to food without express permission from the agency.
“We’ll take enforcement action needed to protect public health against companies illegally selling cannabis and cannabis-derived products that can put consumers at risk,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said last December.
“The FDA has sent warning letters in the past to companies illegally selling CBD products… because they were marketed as dietary supplements or because they involved the addition of CBD to food.”
If you can’t find a bar that serves CBD, you can mix your own infused drinks at home.
