Why Coca-Cola may add cannabis to drinks
Marijuana isn’t just about getting high. Everyone from Coca-Cola Co. to pharmaceutical companies is looking to tap possible therapeutic uses of CBD, a cannabinoid found in marijuana. It’s a substance that’s capturing more attention as use of its source plant grows.
1. What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a component of the marijuana plant. Unlike another marijuana compound, tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, CBD doesn’t make you high or intoxicated.
2. What does it do?
Results from preclinical studies suggest CBD has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-nausea and anti-seizure effects, according to Health Canada.
3. Is it legal?
Not in the US, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration; it’s still a Schedule 1 narcotic like marijuana. Still, you may have noticed more consumer products infused with CBD oil on store shelves. According to DEA spokeswoman Katherine Pfaff, these companies are skirting the law. She says DEA agents are more focused on drug traffickers and the opioid crisis and have mostly left CBD enforcement to local police. Adding to the confusion, CBD is considered legal in some states where medical or recreational marijuana is permitted.
4. What companies are looking to use it? Coca-Cola is exploring the possibility of using CBD as an infusion in “wellness beverages,” to ease inflammation and cramping. In June, the US Food and Drug Administration gave GW Pharmaceuticals approval to sell a CBD-based treatment for two rare forms of childhood epilepsy. It was the first medical treatment derived from a marijuana plant that underwent a safety and efficacy review by the FDA.