CBD finds its way into chocolate bars, gummies and beer

The cannabis industry has seen its fair share of changes the past decade, but one trend no one might have seen coming is the sudden boom of the cannabidiol (CBD) industry. The line of products derived from the naturally-occurring beneficial compound in cannabis is currently taking the world by storm, and the industry is poised to be worth hundreds of millions in the years to come.

Forbes dubs CBD as the “sleeper trend” in the food industry. The ways consumers can use CBD have grown surprisingly in the past years and most of the popular products include edibles such as gummies, oils, cake pops, and more. Many establishments are also acknowledging the new trend.

The report adds that the Standard Hotel brand in L.A., New York and Miami Beach now stock their mini bars with CBD-infused gummies made by L.A.-based Lord Jones.

Kiva Confections also launched a line of chocolate bars infused with the compound. The chocolate bars are made from 100 percent Californian marijuana meaning the plants used in the product are up to the standards placed by the state.

One of the more recent additions to the CBD food industry is Hi-Fi Hops. It is a cannabis-infused beer made with the help of Heineken’s L.A.-based Lagunitas brewing company. A 12oz can of the specialty drink will sell for $8. This is Heineken’s first major step into the increasingly popular marijuana industry.

With a vast selection of products and big names supporting it, what makes CBD to be considered as a sleeper trend for the food industry?

Despite its newfound popularity, the CBD industry is still yet to unlock its full potential as a market. One of the factors that are stunting its growth is its ties to the cannabis industry. Attached to the compound is the negative outlook on marijuana whereas it is a completely different product. CBD products provide only health benefits and none of the high caused by its predecessor.

CBD is just one of the many compounds found in cannabis. The reason it stands out among the other hundred compounds is that it offers a lot of benefits. The key benefits of CBD include its ability to reduce the risks of cancer and diabetes, combat anxiety, relieve pain, and prevent seizures.

Moreover, it doesn't have the capacity to induce the controversial euphoria caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the other compound rich in cannabis. Although, CBD is classified as a Schedule I drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) which places it at the same level as cocaine and heroin. But thanks to the new CBD-derived seizure-treating drug Epidiolex, the DEA is now considering a new classification for CBD.

Once the proper steps have been taken, it could be classified as a Schedule II or III drug, which would recognize the medical benefits of the miracle compound. If this does happen, the industry might finally blossom into what it is supposed to be.

While the current classification of CBD is also causing uncertainty for companies that want to jump in on the trend, there are a few brands that trust in CBD’s potential in defying the odds caused by unfair rulings. One of those companies is PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:POTN).

POTN is one of the most prominent leaders in the CBD sector today. The company devotes itself to producing high-quality CBD products that range from vape additives, edibles, flavored oils, pet foods, creams and more. These products are distributed through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Diamond CBD, Inc.

Diamond CBD’s best-sellers are its edibles, such as its Chill Gummies and its pharmaceutically formulated variant, Med BioTech CBD-Infused Gummy Bears. The company also offers CBD-infused drinks which come in shots that make it easier to measure one’s daily intake of the compound.

The accessibility of CBD food products is making it a lot easier to incorporate the health benefits of the compound into our lives. The compound was once used through oils and tinctures only, but now, it can be taken through tasty products. Once agencies begin shedding new light on the compound, we can expect more companies to offer their own line of  food and drinks that are infused with the miracle compound.