Since cannabis was legalized in Canada back in October 2017, there has been an explosion in the cannabis beverage market. CBD infused drinks seem to be the fastest growing segment of this market.

By now, you’ve probably heard all about the supposed health benefits of CBD.  It’s thought to help with anxiety, relieve pain and might even reinvigorate your sex life. But are these benefits real? Why is CBD the star of the cannabis drink game over THC?

What are CBD infused drinks?

In a nutshell, CBD is one of the two main cannabinoids found in cannabis. The other main cannabinoid, THC, is responsible for the “high” experienced when using cannabis. CBD is non-psychoactive and non addictive cannabinoid found in cannabis.

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CBD infused drinks are made by infusing water and CBD particles. The result is a canned, usually sparkling drink that’s similar to flavoured sparkling water or a spiked seltzer. There are some “CBD-only” drinks on the market but it can be hard to find one that doesn’t have a trace amount of THC.  This is because it can be hard to extract pure CBD from cannabis plants without some trace amounts of THC.

What positive effects does CBD infused drinks have?

One major factor in the drinks’ popularity is CBD’s reputation as a cure-all. However, since legalization, more studies have been conducted to see what are the benefits of CBD for humans. In 2021, a study conducted by the Canadian medical cannabis clinic showed that, when applied in real world situations, patients prescribed a CBD-rich treatment benefitted from ease of pain, anxiety and depression, and overall wellbeing.

“This retrospective observational study suggests CBD-rich treatment has a beneficial impact on pain, anxiety, and depression symptoms as well as overall wellbeing only for patients with moderate to severe symptoms;…”

This reinforces that we still have much to learn about how CBD can positively benefit individuals on a day to day basis.

Are there any adverse effects?

Low doses of CBD are generally very safe, so moderation is absolutely key. At higher doses, CBD can produce some nausea and could interact with other drugs if you are using treatment through other medication. According to some doctors, if you are on antidepressants or mood stabilizers, you should be cautious.

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We would strongly recommend having a conversation with your medical professional if you have any concerns about taking CBD infused drinks.

What potential benefits do CBD infused drinks have?

CBD infused drinks work just as well as any other CBD product out there but they come in more variety than others in addition to being easier to consume. More flavours, concentrations, flat or sparkling. You are sure to find exactly what you are looking for. So what types of benefits can CBD infused drinks have on your body? Here are three examples that could potentially veer you towards these drinks over conventional products:

Treating Joint Pain

Every time you move your body, you use joints inside your body. The joints serve as a way to support your body, by forming connections between bones. There are many reasons why someone might be experiencing joint pain. Here’s a short list of the possible joint pain can occur:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis 
• Bursitis
• Gout
• Strains
• Sprains

All of the conditions above share one similar trait: inflammation. When you have arthritis or a sprained ankle, your joints become inflamed. Unfortunately, joint pain is a very common problem for adults, especially in elderly individuals.  Many adults report feeling pain in their knee, shoulder hip, or ankle.

The sensation joint pains cause can range from mildly painful, to debilitating pain that puts your entire life on hold. The only way to regain mobility is to target the inflammation directly. CBD infused drinks offer individuals a chance to use a natural remedy, rather than prescription medications for inflammation.

Cancer Fighting Reinforcements

CBD cannot cure cancer, but it can help improve and assist with cancer treatments that are already in place. Here’s a short list of potential benefits for cancer treatment:

• Reduce cancerous inflammation
• Help cope with pain
• Slowing Cancerous Growths

When you have cancer, you experience pain, as a result of inflammation, putting pressure on internal organs, and nerves. Similar to the way CBD, may help relieve joint pain, it may also help reduce inflammation in some cancer patients.

Dr. Sean, McAllister has been studying the powerful effects of CBD for ten years at the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. His research is discovering that CBD, can potentially help slow breast cancers, metastasis, and tumour growth. Cannabinoid compounds fight cancer, by preventing new blood cells from forming that would feed the tumour.

Better Bathroom Trips   

Problems with digestion are something that’s affecting a large number of people. In Canada, according to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, around 20 million Canadians struggle with some sort of digestive disorder. Here’s a short list of the type of digestive diseases people are battling:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

CBD’s ability to reduce inflammation, allows it to alleviate pain caused by digestive diseases, Introducing CBD to your digestive tract can also help regulate digestion.

What about hemp drinks?

Hemp is another part of the cannabis plant that contains little to no THC but boasts a lot more CBD than other varieties. Typically, hemp contains less than 0.3% of THC which makes it a great part of the plant to use for any other CBD product out there such as oils, edibles and serums.

While the plant’s leaves and stems contain CBD, other parts of the plant contain trace amounts of the cannabinoid, as previously mentioned. This means, that hemp seeds and hemp hearts have made a name for themselves as a good source of plant-based protein because they’re rich in heart- and brain-healthy omega fatty acids. Hemp extracts and hempseed oil also don’t contain CBD.

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There are also hemp drinks made from hemp extracts and hempseed oil that don’t contain CBD. These drinks, like the Canadian brand Daydream, claim to boost your focus and decrease stress. Daydream also contains adaptogens like Schisandra and ginseng which are known to help with stress reduction, focus, and memory. 

What to look for if you want to try CBD and hemp drinks

First and foremost, pay attention to how much CBD (and THC) is in each product. In Canada, cannabis is regulated but the Cannabis Act and all products must have both the THC and CBD contents displayed in quantity, by milligrams, or concentration, by milligrams per gram.  When you’re at your local dispensary or ordering online through an online retailer, carefully examine the labelling to find a dosage that works for you.  The best advice we can suggest is to start low and slow then see how your body reacts.  If you’re buying in person, tell the employee what effects you are looking for, and they should be able to make recommendations based on that. We also suggest looking into drinks made with CBD Oil, we have articles on CBD infused Smoothies and CBD oil with coffee. Maybe making your drink instead of premade is the way for you to go.

Also, most online retailers have Certificates of Analysis, which means the government or a third-party laboratory, tests each batch made for its content of THC and CBD. These certificates also have a date tied to them, so if they do not line up with the date you are purchasing, do not be shy to ask for an updated certificate.