A CBD drink is a prepackaged beverage product that contains full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate.
“The most common form of CBD to be infused into [any drink], from smoothies to tea, is an oil that’s extracted from a cannabis plant and then added to the food product,” says Brooke Worster, M.D., chief medical consultant at Ethos Cannabis and assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
CBD drinks usually contain additional natural or artificial flavors and ingredients, though some drinks contain exclusively hemp and water. CBD drinks are also marketed as non-alcoholic beverage alternatives, often with flavoring similar to alcoholic cocktails.
How Are CBD Drinks Made?
While adding extracts or oils to a product is typical when it comes to edible CBD products (such as CBD gummies), there’s no “standard” process for manufacturing CBD drinks, according to Dr. Worster, who adds that there’s little regulatory oversight for CBD and herbal products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are three main types of CBD used in various CBD products: full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate. Full-spectrum CBD products contain a full range of active cannabinoids, including CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Broad-spectrum CBD products are similar, but manufacturing processes remove all traces of THC from the final product. CBD isolate products contain exclusively CBD, leaving out all other compounds.
CBD can be added to common base beverages, such as carbonated water, still water, lemonade, tea and powder (to add to liquid). CBD drinks offer a variety of flavors, such as classic cocktails, fruits and herbs or botanicals. Further, some drinks may highlight its herbal ingredients and relaxation benefits while some contain caffeine as an energy booster.
How Do CBD Drinks Work?
Drinks with added CBD tend to contain a small amount of the cannabinoid, as well as additional ingredients like all-natural flavors. Research is still investigating how any amount of CBD affects the body, including its bioavailability after being consumed. However, some research suggests small amounts of ingested CBD (below 400 milligrams per day) may not have the same therapeutic benefits verified in studies where a larger dose of CBD was used, such as sleep support and pain relief.
Additional clinical studies are needed to determine how CBD drinks affect the body, as well as their efficacy.
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